MHA Today | December 28, 2020

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon

After a week’s uncertainty sparked by President Trump’s unexpected opposition to Congress’ recently enacted compromise legislation, primarily focused on federal spending authority and pandemic relief, Trump signed H.R. 133 into law. Today, the U.S. House is expected to debate legislation supported by the president to increase the $600 direct stimulus payment of H.R. 133 by $1,400. The House is expected to pass the measure; the Senate is not. Congress also is expected to attempt an override of the president’s veto of a defense authorization bill. It then is expected to adjourn until the new Congress convenes on Sunday, Jan. 3.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

Although critical access hospitals are excluded from the Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Pay‑For‑Performance program, MHA is making available a simulation that illustrates the effect that such a program could have on CAHs. The report includes estimated fiscal implications and scoring for each VBP domain, including person and community engagement, clinical outcomes, and safety.

Policy and analytic studies, prepared for distribution by the Hospital Industry Data Institute, are available for download to authorized users of HIDI Analytic Advantage®. If you need a user ID and password or have questions about accessing these reports, contact HIDI.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

The Missouri Medicaid caseload grew by nearly 11,000 in November to 1,015,000. Enrollment increased in all eligibility categories, which includes elders, disabled, parents, kids and pregnant women. This marks the ninth straight month of caseload growth after more than two years of steady declines. Since Jan. 31, Missouri’s Medicaid caseload has grown by 170,000, or 20%. The number of children covered has increased by nearly 105,000 during this time.

The growth in the caseload is expected and will continue to increase at least through January 2021. To qualify for a 6.2% increase in federal matching funds available to the state under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, states may not end a participant’s Medicaid coverage unless the participant moves to another state, dies or requests that their coverage end. Normal Medicaid eligibility standards will resume once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued guidance to direct states’ return to routine eligibility determination activities.