The Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) met April 8–9 to discuss recommendations it will include in its June report to Congress. MACPAC employees also made presentations to commissioners about key Medicaid and CHIP managed care quality requirements and quality improvement and measurement activities conducted by states, plans, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In addition, MACPAC employees provided a summary of initial findings about state performance on selected core set measures, and managed care plan performance on improvement projects. MACPAC employees and commissioners identified possible areas for future commission work related to quality of care in Medicaid.
During the meeting, commissioners approved recommendations that call on the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to:
- Direct relevant agencies to issue joint sub-regulatory guidance that addresses how Medicaid and CHIP can be used to fund a crisis continuum for beneficiaries experiencing behavioral health crises.
- Direct a coordinated effort to provide education, technical assistance and planning support to expand access to behavioral health services.
- Direct relevant agencies to issue joint sub-regulatory guidance that addresses the design and implementation of benefits for children and adolescents with significant mental health conditions covered by Medicaid and CHIP.
MACPAC is statutorily required to release its June report to Congress by June 15.