The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed into law on March 18, includes an option for states to receive enhanced federal Medicaid funding. In exchange for these additional funds, states must comply with certain maintenance of effort (MOE) protections. These policies are intended to help ensure individuals can access coverage and care during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Specifically, Section 6008b(3) of the FFCRA requires states to preserve then-current enrollments and benefits through the end of the PHE: “an individual who is enrolled for benefits under such plan (or waiver) as of the date of enactment shall be treated as eligible for such benefits through the end of the month in which such emergency period ends.”
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The COVID-19 public health emergency continues to demonstrate the need for reliable access to health care, especially for older adults and people with disabilities. The pandemic makes it crucial to protect Medicare’s ability to provide guaranteed coverage and meet the changing and urgent needs of the populations it serves. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also must have the bandwidth to shift focus and respond quickly to immediate and emergent issues. Thousands of lives are at stake.
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As the current COVID-19 public health emergency continues to reveal, the need for health care can arise at any moment and may be the difference between life and death. People without comprehensive health coverage may delay or forgo care, worsening their own and public health outcomes. Those who do seek treatment may face extreme financial hardships, impacting patient, program, and taxpayer costs.
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The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Medicare Program; Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) and Definition of “Reasonable and Necessary” (CMS–3372–P) proposed rule. Medicare Rights is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Each year, Medicare Rights provides services and resources to nearly three million people with Medicare, family caregivers, and professionals.
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Comments in opposition to approving Georgia’s proposal to eliminate HealthCare.gov access for Georgians.
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Comments in opposition to reclassifying payments for health care sharing ministries as payments for medical insurance for tax purposes.
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Comments in response to the Taskforce on Telehealth Policy’s request for input from stakeholders.
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Medicare Rights provided comments on the second Interim Final Rule with Comment that made changes to Medicare rules, payments, and reporting during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on Oklahoma’s Sooner Care 2.0 Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver application. While we support state Medicaid expansions, we believe that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should reject the Sooner Care 2.0 Demonstration application as being inaccurate, incomplete, outside of the scope of the Secretary’s authority, not in keeping with the purpose of Medicaid, and against the interests of the Medicaid population and program— as well as health systems and public health generally—in Oklahoma and nationally.
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The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Bipartisan Policy Center’s white paper, “Policy Options for Integrating Care for Individuals with Both Medicare and Medicaid.”
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