Rural Health
Services
Fact Sheet
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1. Purpose of this Document
The purpose of this document is to assist State and
local health officials, as they work with their State
and local Medicaid officials, in understanding how
Medicaid works and how Medicaid can help to assure
access to rural health services for underserved populations.
Americans in rural areas are more likely to have
no health insurance, to be poor, to face problems
accessing health care, and to forego needed health
care.[1] These factors underscore
the importance of health programs that serve rural
areas. This document helps to explain how Medicaid
can be an appropriate source of financing for the
delivery of Medicaid-covered, rural health services.
Maximizing the use of Medicaid funding can make it
possible for rural health services to be provided
to more beneficiaries.
Many medical providers and health officials have
looked at Medicaid and have found its rules extraordinarily
complex. This complexity should not discourage the
pursuit of Medicaid enrollment or the pursuit of Medicaid
funding. The goal of this document is to provide information
in as simple terms as possible that can help all parties
understand what the possibilities are. This should
help as agreements are negotiated, policy decisions
made and strategic plans formulated.
[1] In 1997, the proportion of
persons under age 65 without health insurance was
19.7% for rural residents and 14.3% for urban residents.
Rural residents are more likely to live at or below
the poverty level--in 1996, 16.5% of rural residents
and 14.1% of urban residents had incomes below the
poverty level. Rural areas have greater concentrations
of elderly (persons over age 65) than do urban areas--14.8%
and 12.3% respectively. Rural areas have high rates
of infant mortality, low birth rates and most age-adjusted
health indicators. (Barbara A. Ormand, Susan Wallin
and Susan M.Goldenson, “Supporting the Rural Health
Safety Net,” Assessing the New Federalism, The Urban
Institute, Occasional Paper Number 36.) Other studies
document that the uninsured have difficulty accessing
needed health care, and are more likely to forego
or postpone needed care. See “Uninsured in America,”
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, Monograph,
1998.
2. About Medicaid: A Brief Overview
| Medicaid serves more
people than any other U.S. health program. Over
40 million persons had Medicaid coverage in 1999.
Medicaid covers low-income persons in specific
eligibility categories, including families, children,
pregnant women, and elderly and disabled persons.
In recent years, Medicaid has been the health
coverage for about one-fourth of all children
in the U.S., and about 40% of pregnant women. |
Additional
information
about Medicaid
is provided in
the Attachment
to this document. |
|
Established as Title XIX under the Social Security
Act in 1965, Medicaid is a federal-state program for
financing medical and long-term care services for
low-income Americans. (This document does not
focus on long term care services.) At the Federal
level, the program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which pays the Federal
share of qualifying state Medicaid expenditures. Federal
Medicaid payments are an uncapped entitlement to states.
Eligible individuals are entitled to covered medical
services.
States design and administer Medicaid within federally-defined
boundaries relating to eligibility, benefits, coverage
and provision of care. Because States have a great
deal of flexibility, each State Medicaid program is
unique.
Medicaid is the largest single
expenditure item in most State budgets.
Medicaid helps finance 77% of all State health-related
expenditures.
--National Association of State Budget Officers |
3. Opportunities to Use Medicaid: Rural Health and
Rural Hospitals
The opportunities to use Medicaid as a source of
financing will vary with each program and with each
State. However, a careful review of any State Medicaid
program will likely identify opportunities in which
Medicaid can help finance State or local health programs.
Rural areas pose challenges to the availability and
access to health care. Medicaid funding can assist
in addressing the issues in several ways. Each strategy
will involve discussions and agreements with the Medicaid
agency regarding adoption and implementation. While
this overview broadly describes these strategies,
each raises detailed implementation issues that will
vary from State to State. The following avenues are
worth consideration as part of a rural health strategy.
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs): Hospital outpatient
departments and independent primary care clinics
can qualify for rural health clinic status, and
thereby qualify for special reasonable cost reimbursement
from Medicaid and Medicare. Both provider-based
(hospital owned) and independent RHCs are subject
to a maximum payment limits for services classified
as RHC services.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs):
All federally-funded health centers that receive
grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Service
Act are FQHCs. In addition, community based health
care providers that satisfy federal grant requirements
can gain FQHC status as “look alikes”. There are
currently look alike FQHCs. The Balanced Budget
Act (BBA) as amended by the Balanced Budget Reconciliation
Act (BBRA) continues reasonable cost based reimbursement
on a phase-down basis through 2004.
Local Health Departments: At State discretion,
Medicaid can reimburse local health departments
for the reasonable cost of services delivered to
Medicaid patients. Medicaid patients are a majority
of patients for many health departments. Overall
eligibility changes may have the effect of increasing
the number of Medicaid patients.
Critical Access Hospitals: Small rural hospitals,
with fewer than 15 beds, providing emergency services
and at least 35 miles from another hospital can
qualify for status as a Critical Access Hospital.
These hospitals receive reasonable cost reimbursement
from Medicare. Medicaid can at State discretion
pay such a hospital using a reasonable cost methodology.
Support for Rural Physicians: Providing
24-hour coverage is a critical issue for doctors
in rural areas. Medicaid can contract and pay for
services that support these physicians. An example
would be a 24-hour nurse helpline, based at a local
hospital, whose costs would qualify for Medicaid
reimbursement as either a medical or administrative
fee.
Adequate Reimbursement for Rural Providers:
Medicaid payment is often very low. Low payment
rates discourage provider participation in Medicaid.
Because rural areas usually do not have sufficient
patients to fully support a doctor’s practice, Medicaid
can pay rural providers at a rate more generous
than that used for providers in non-rural areas.
This will help make a rural practice financially
viable.
Medicaid Payment for Telemedicine: New technologies
are bringing advanced specialty and sub-specialty
medical care to remote areas, via telemedicine.
Medicaid reimbursement can be set to compensate
both in person and telemedicine based on consultation.
Medicaid Enrollment of Ancillary Providers:
Within the scope of each State’s practice acts,
Medicaid can increase availability of medical care
in underserved areas by allowing reimbursement for
services provided by nurse practitioners, physician
assistants or other ancillary providers. Coverage
of nurse midwifery and nurse practitioner services
is mandatory where such practice is permitted by
State law.
Graduate Medical Education (GME): Medicaid
can compensate for GME costs incurred by accredited
training programs in order to encourage the provision
of care in geographic and specialty shortage areas.
Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments:
Medicaid can define the criteria for hospitals to
qualify for DSH payments. It is possible to set
the criteria such that rural hospitals that serve
low-income patients receive enhanced Medicaid payments.
Enrolling Eligible Adults and Children:
Medicaid funding can only support care for persons
who are actually enrolled in Medicaid. Experience
has shown that many eligible persons are not enrolled,
but that certain strategies increase the likelihood
of their enrollment. These strategies include: outreach;
radio and TV public service announcements; simplified
forms and procedures; and outstationed assistance
to applicants. These efforts are particularly important
for children, pregnant women and the elderly, and
migrant agricultural workers.
Outstationed Medicaid Eligibility Workers:
Medicaid funding is available to support workers
located in sites such as hospitals, community health
centers or local health departments. The outstationed
eligibility workers can provide information, assist
in application and eligibility determination, and
facilitate enrollment in Medicaid.
Medical Transportation: In addition to emergency
transport, transportation related to an eligible
medical service is a covered benefit under Medicaid.
This service can be especially important to rural
residents who need prescription drugs or on-going
medical treatment. Medicaid can contract with a
transportation system, or reimburse mileage or specific
transportation providers who meet Medicaid requirements.
Conclusion
This document provides an overview of the potential
for State and local health programs to use Medicaid
as a source of financing for rural health programs.
Medicaid has become a significant source of funding
for almost every health-related program in the U.S.
that serves low-income persons. Over the past decade,
the use of Medicaid has increased significantly. It
is likely that new opportunities for Medicaid to support
such services will continue to emerge. A periodic
review may identify new ways for a State to take advantage
of Medicaid as a source of funding to finance health
services.
Other Opportunities to Use Medicaid
In addition to rural health programs, Medicaid is
also a potential source of financing for a number
of State or local health programs. Specific areas
where Medicaid can be a source of funding include:
oral health, maternal and child health, school-based
health care, and mental health and substance abuse
services; and services for children with special health
care needs, homeless populations, and persons with
HIV/AIDS.
Contact Information
If you have questions or wish to obtain additional
information on implementation strategies, contact:
Alexander Ross
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Center for Health Services Financing and Managed Care
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-29
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-443-1512
Fax: 301-443-5641
E-mail: aross@hrsa.gov
For copies of this document, contact:
HRSA Information Center
P.O. Box 2910
Merrifield, VA 22116
Phone:1-888-Ask-HRSA
Fax: 703-821-2098
TTY: 877-4TY-HRSA
Se Habla Espanol
OR
Visit the HRSA web site at: www.hrsa.gov/medicaidprimer
This document was prepared by Health
Management Associates under contract with HRSA.
4. Attachment: A Basic Description
of the Medicaid Program
Federal law provides that a State may qualify for
Federal Medicaid matching funds only if it designs
its program within specific Federal requirements.
These include eligibility for specific population
groups, coverage for certain medical services and
medical providers, and adherence to specific rules
relating to payment methodologies, payment amounts,
and cost-sharing for Medicaid beneficiaries.
To qualify for Federal Medicaid matching funds, a
State must obtain the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) approval of its Medicaid State Plan. The State
Plan is the contract between the Federal government
and the State, which spells out the terms and conditions
under which the State will receive Federal Medicaid
matching funds. Every change in eligibility for beneficiaries,
change in coverage of services or change in methodology
of reimbursement in a State's Medicaid program requires
a State Plan Amendment that must be approved by CMS.
Waivers of Federal Requirements
Federal law requires that Medicaid beneficiaries
have freedom of choice of providers, that the program
is statewide, and that services are available in an
amount, duration and scope sufficient to achieve their
purpose.
The Federal law provides flexibility to States to
cover optional services and eligibility groups. Some
options are specifically described in the Federal
law. Other options may be available through "waivers."
CMS has authority to "waive" certain statutory
requirements so a State can, for example, cover certain
benefits or eligibility groups that could not otherwise
be covered under Medicaid.
CMS may grant "program waivers" or "research
and demonstration waivers". The most common program
waiver is under Section 1915(b), which waives the
freedom of choice requirement so a State can implement
a managed care program. Recently, the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 provided that a State has a choice of
a managed care waiver or a State Plan Amendment. Either
approach will be approved with a set of specific terms
and conditions. Section 1915(c) waivers provide for
Home and Community Based Services waivers. Research
and demonstration waivers are granted under Section
1115 for more comprehensive programs of health reform.
Section 1115 waivers may involve restructuring the
State's Medicaid program, as well as the terms and
conditions of Federal funding.
The Impact of Medicaid Managed Care
Increasingly, Medicaid programs have moved
toward the use of managed care arrangements as delivery
systems for Medicaid beneficiaries. Medicaid managed
care may involve enrollment with health maintenance
organizations (HMOs) and managed care organizations
(MCOs) which are paid on a capitated basis, or a Primary
Care Case Management (PCCM) system, which is a fee-for-service
program that the state develops and manages itself.
Some states have found that a PCCM works well in rural
areas that may be served by few or no HMOs.
An HMO, a MCO or a PCCM system will require the Medicaid
beneficiary to enroll with a specific primary care
provider, who by contract with the Medicaid agency
accepts certain responsibilities for providing and
authorizing needed medical care. Providers not in
the HMO network, or not referred by the primary care
provider in a PCCM system, may not be able to be reimbursed
for services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries.
The use of managed care can raise significant issues
for Medicaid reimbursement of services delivered by
public health agencies, mental health agencies, health
centers or other publicly assisted agencies. This
is particularly true for care provided through capitated
HMOs and MCOs. Public providers may need to negotiate
participation and reimbursement arrangements with
an HMO instead of with the Medicaid agency. Public
providers would be well served to monitor the development
of State Medicaid policy to be sure their interests
are taken into account as managed care policy is developed.
It is sometimes possible and advantageous to the State
agency and the State budget to arrange for certain
services to be "carved out" of capitated
managed care contracts and directly reimbursed by
Medicaid. Services often considered for a carve-out
include: family planning; prenatal care and other
pregnancy services; selected Early and Periodic Screening,
Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) services; immunizations;
or mental health services.
Qualifying for Federal Medicaid Matching Funds
Medicaid is a program that provides open-ended Federal
contributions according to a statutory formula to
participating States with approved plans. CMS reimburses
the State Medicaid Agency for a portion of actual
expenditures made under the provisions of the State
Plan. Federal reimbursements (Federal financial participation,
or "FFP") are based on qualifying expenditures
for either "medical assistance" (i.e., medical
services) or for program administration.
The amount of Federal payments to a State for medical
services depends on two factors. The first is the
actual amount spent that qualifies as matchable under
Medicaid. In general, this means that:
- The expenditure is for a covered service;
- Provided by a qualified provider enrolled with
the Medicaid program; and
- To a person eligible for and enrolled in Medicaid
at the time of service.
The second factor is the Federal Medical Assistance
Percentage (FMAP) for each State. The FMAP percentage
is computed from a formula that takes into account
the average per capita income for each State relative
to the national average. By law, the FMAP cannot be
less than 50%. States with per capita personal incomes
below the national average have a FMAP rate as high
as 77% in fiscal year 2000. This means, for example,
for every $1 in qualifying Medicaid expenditures made
by a State, the State is able to claim and receive
at least $0.50 and as much as $0.77, depending on
the State FMAP.
Expenditures for Medicaid-related administrative
activities also qualify for Federal matching funds.
For administrative expenditures to qualify, the activities
must be related to the administration of the State
Medicaid program. Unlike the FMAP for medical services,
which is different for each State, the administrative
matching rates are the same for all States. Expenditures
necessary for the administration of the program generally
are reimbursed at 50%. Certain administrative expenditures
qualify for higher Federal matching rates. For example,
certain activities requiring skilled medical professionals
qualify for 75% Federal matching. Some expenditures
relating to the development of new information technology
systems may qualify for Federal matching rates of
75% or 90%.
Medicaid allows State and local agencies that provide
or arrange for covered services to Medicaid enrollees
to receive Federal payments toward the cost of such
services. For these expenditures to qualify for Federal
Medicaid payments, service delivery and administrative
activities must be carried out under the terms of
an inter-agency agreement with the Medicaid agency.
The agreement is a contract that spells out the medical
and administrative services that will be treated by
the Medicaid agency as Medicaid expenditures; and
thus, will qualify for Federal funds. The Medicaid
agency will include those qualifying expenditures
identified in the agreement in its claim for Federal
funds. The agreement usually holds the service delivery
agency responsible for any potential future recoveries
if an audit should find the claim for Federal matching
funds included non-qualifying expenditures.
Opportunities to Use Medicaid
Federal Medicaid matching funds have proven
to be a rich source of financing for many State and
local health programs. Federal Medicaid funds may
help finance a new program or coverage, or the expansion
of an existing program. In some cases, where an existing
health program was previously financed entirely from
State or local funds, the availability of Federal
Medicaid matching funds may reduce the cost of general
fund dollars borne by State or local government.
The opportunity to use Medicaid as a source of financing
for State or local health programs depends on the
ability of policymakers to design programs (or redefine
on-going programs) that meet the Medicaid requirements.
How to Increase Medicaid Funding for State
and Local Health Services
Policy changes that will permit a State program
to qualify its expenditures for Medicaid matching
funds can be classified as follows:
I. Increase the Number of Persons Who Qualify
for Medicaid Coverage: Expenditures cannot
qualify for Federal Medicaid matching funds when services
are provided to persons who are not enrolled in Medicaid.
Thus, one avenue for increasing Medicaid support for
a program is for eligibility to be expanded so a greater
number of persons served by a program may qualify.
Many persons who are eligible for Medicaid do not
apply because they do not know they are eligible,
or they regard the application process as difficult.
State residency requirements are not allowed under
Medicaid. This means, for example, that migrant workers
and their children are able to qualify on the same
terms as any other person in a specific State.
Medicaid eligibility is determined in general by
two key factors. First, persons must be in a qualifying
category. Second, persons must meet State-defined
income and asset criteria. (Other requirements also
apply, such as being a legal U.S. resident.) Each
Medicaid program must cover certain groups of persons,
but has the opportunity to offer coverage to other
optional eligibility categories.
Medicaid eligibility rules are complex. The following
is a general description of Medicaid eligibility categories
and rules:
Mandatory Eligibility Groups: Federal law
specifies that States must cover certain eligibility
categories, including:
- Low-income families with children who would have
qualified for Aid to Families with Dependent Children
(AFDC) cash assistance in July 1996. These persons
may or may not be receiving Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance now.
- Children under age 6 in families with incomes
below 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
- Children ages 6 to 17 in families with incomes
below 100% of the FPL (to age 18 in 2001).
- Pregnant women with family income below 133% of
the FPL.
- Elderly, blind or disabled adults and children
receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
- Children receiving foster care or adoption assistance
under Title IV of the Social Security Act.
- Persons who lose eligibility for AFDC/TANF due
to earnings (i.e., leave welfare for work) may continue
on Medicaid for up to a year; those who leave due
to increases in child support payments, may continue
on Medicaid up to four months.
- Certain Medicare beneficiaries, with benefits
depending upon income up to 175% of FPL are also
eligible for Medicaid. "Dual Eligibles"
are a group enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare.
Depending on the individual's income, these persons
qualify for various levels of Medicaid coverage
and support. Persons who qualify under SSI income
standards qualify for full Medicaid coverage. Persons
above this level may not receive full Medicaid benefits.
Medicaid pays for all or a portion of Medicare premiums,
deductibles, and coinsurance, depending on the income
level of the beneficiary. (An asset test also applies
such that countable assets cannot exceed $4,000
for an individual, or $6,000 for a couple.)
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs): Income
up to 100% of the FPL. Medicaid pays Medicare
part A and B premiums, deductibles and cost sharing
related to Medicare covered benefits.
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
(SLIMBs): Income between 100% and 120% of the
FPL. Medicaid pays only for the Medicare Part
B premium.
- Qualified Individuals (QIs): Medicaid pays all
or part of the Medicare Part B premium for persons
who would be eligible to be a QMB except their
income is between 120% and 135%, or at state option
up to 175% of the FPL.
- Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWIs):
Persons who are disabled, but who lost their Medicare
Part A benefit due to increased earnings, and
whose income is between 100% and 200% of the FPL.
Medicaid pays the only the Part A premium.
Optional Eligibility Groups: Federal law specifies
that States may, at the option of the State, cover
low-income persons in a number of specified eligibility
groups. These include (but are not limited to) the
following:
- Pregnant women, infants, children and parents
of any Medicaid-eligible child, including parents
in two-parent families with income and assets at
or below state-defined levels.
- Disabled children who would be eligible under
criteria in effect in July 1996.
- Persons in institutions with incomes less than
300% of the SSI Federal benefit level.
- Recipients of SSI payments, and disabled or elderly
persons with incomes below100% of the FPL.
- Certain working disabled persons who would qualify
for SSI if they were not working, up to 250% of
the FPL.
- Children under a "Medicaid Expansion"
State Child Health Insurance Program.
- Persons who are "Medically Needy".
| In 1999, 42 states had a Medically
Needy Program. |
The "Medically Needy" category provides
for a different method of determining eligibility,
based on actual medical expenses incurred by an individual.
Medically needy persons are individuals who fall within
one of the mandatory or optional eligibility groups,
but have income and resources that would make them
ineligible, except when the cost of their medical
care is taken into account. When they incur medical
expenses they "spend down" their income,
and become eligible for the balance of the eligibility
period from the point in time they spend down their
income to the eligibility level. The process begins
again at the beginning of the next state-defined eligibility
period.
Income Eligibility Levels: States have considerable
flexibility in setting permissible income levels.
Income eligibility levels can be set separately for
specific groups, such as children, families, pregnant
women, the disabled and the elderly.
States can increase effective eligibility levels
for pregnant women, children, families with children,
elderly and disabled persons by "disregarding"
a certain amount of income. In this way, eligibility
for children could be extended above 185% of the FPL
(technically the upper limit for pregnant women and
infants), by setting the disregarded amount to a level
that would bring countable income down to 185% of
the FPL. To extend the eligibility level to 285% of
the FPL, for example, a State would set the disregarded
amount at 100% of the FPL.
The income disregard provisions can also be used
to effectively increase the income limits for Qualified
Medicare Beneficiaries (who receive Medicaid assistance
with their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance),
and some aged, blind and disabled Medicaid groups.
This flexibility over countable income is found in
Section 1902 (r)(2) and Section 1931 of the Social
Security Act.
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):
A State can implement its SCHIP program as a Medicaid
expansion, or as a separate health insurance program.
Another option is for a State to have both a Medicaid
expansion and a separate program operating at the
same time with each one targeted at health coverage
for different groups of children. SCHIP has an enhanced
Federal matching rate, ranging from 65 percent to
about 85 percent. Because the matching rate is higher,
a State can extend coverage to children at a lower
State cost through SCHIP than through regular Medicaid.
A key feature of SCHIP is its focus on finding children
who are eligible, but not yet enrolled in either Medicaid
or a separate SCHIP program. Matching funds are available
specifically for the purpose of marketing, outreach
and determining eligibility.
II. Increase Services Covered by Medicaid:
Each State determines what medical services will be
covered under Medicaid. By defining services appropriately,
a State can be sure services provided by other State
agencies qualify for Medicaid reimbursement. Typically,
medical services provided through public health, mental
health, disability, substance abuse treatment, aging,
or education agencies can qualify for Federal Medicaid
matching funds. Federal Medicaid matching funds can
help finance capacity expansion in these programs
or reduce the net cost to the State for these services,
if they are specifically covered in the State Plan.
Mandatory coverage includes the following services:
- Hospital services, inpatient and outpatient
- Physician services
- Lab and X-ray
- Immunizations and other well-child services listed
under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic
and Treatment requirements, including any medically
necessary diagnostic and treatment services, plus
vision, dental and hearing services for children.
- Family planning services
- Nurse midwife, pediatric and family nurse practitioner
serves
- Federally-qualified health center (FQHC) and rural
health clinic (RHC) services
- Home health care services
- Nursing home services
- Transportation for medical services
Optional coverages include 34 specific services,
including the following:
- Prescription drugs
- Clinic series
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy services
- Prosthetic and orthotic devices
- Optometrist services and eyeglasses
- Hearing services
- Dental Services
- Home and community based care for persons with
certain impairments
The number of optional services
covered by states
range from 13 to 33. The median is 24. |
III. Set Medicaid Reimbursement Rates at Appropriate
Levels: State Medicaid programs are required
by Federal law to set their payment rates at a levels
sufficient to achieve access to needed care. Medicaid
may want to set rates to achieve specific public policy
objectives, such as access to primary care, well-child
care, prenatal care or deliveries.
Rates for safety net providers, including FQHCs and
RHCs, can be set to assure their financial viability.
Federal law specifies cost-related reimbursement methods
for FQHCs, but meeting the minimum legal requirement
may not assure full reimbursement of costs for Medicaid
patients. Medicaid has the option under the law to
provide full-cost reimbursement for these providers.
The maximum amount that the State Medicaid Programs
are allowed to pay is defined by the Upper Payment
Limit, which is generally the amount Medicare would
have paid for the same services and patients. If a
Medicaid program were to pay an amount greater than
the upper payment limit, the amount above the limit
would not qualify for Federal Medicaid matching funds.
Special "Disproportionate Share Hospital"
(DSH) payments can be made to hospitals that qualify
on the basis of their service to Medicaid and the
uninsured. Each State is able to define the specific
criteria these hospitals must meet to qualify. Funds
are distributed based on a state-defined formula.
DSH payments are limited to inpatient and outpatient
hospital providers.
IV. Find and Enroll Potential Eligibles: Medicaid,
Title V Maternal and Child Health Program or Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funding can support
administrative activities that are directed at case-finding,
education and outreach initiatives that help locate
and enroll persons who are eligible for Medicaid.
Medicaid funding also is available to create the systems
needed to determine eligibility and to enroll individuals
into Medicaid. Federal Medicaid funds can be used
to support outstationed enrollment services of FQHCs,
DSH payment hospitals, health departments and other
community sites.
Medicaid can also reimburse for case management as
an administrative activity. Case management may apply
in situations where enrolled persons have complex
medical conditions; and it is beneficial to set up
a process to systematically manage their medical care.
5. Sources for More Information About Medicaid
Excellent information on Medicaid is available from
several sources. These sources may provide more detailed
information on specific areas of interest. Medicaid
is constantly changing and responding to new issues.
The following sources may be useful in obtaining up
to date information.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Web site: www.cms.gov
-- on the CMS web, see:
- Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP) descriptions and data
sections
- State Medicaid Director Letters
(specific direction to Medicaid agencies on
a range of issues)
- Federal Medical Assistance Percentages for each
state
Bureau of Primary Health Care
Health Resources and Services Administration
Web site: www.bphc.hrsa.gov
Center for Health Services Financing and Managed
Care
Health Resources and Services Administration
Web site: www.hrsa.gov/financeMC
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Web site: www.kff.org
National Academy for State Health Policy
Web site: www.nashp.org
National Health Law Program
Web site: www.healthlaw.org/medicaid.shtml
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Web site: www.cbpp.org
Urban Institute New Federalism Project
Web site: newfederalism.urban.org
Rural Policy Research Institute
Web site: www.rupri.org
|