MHA Today | January 17, 2022

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson or Jane Drummond

CMS issued updated guidance for states related to its vaccine mandate after the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the rule to proceed. The guidance includes updated information related to compliance timeframes and surveyor guidance for the 24 states, including Missouri, in which the rule previously was enjoined.

In addition to the guidance, providers will find additional information on the CMS website specific to the provider type. Hospitals have until Monday, Feb. 14, to ensure policies and procedures are in place, all affected staff have received at least one dose of the two-dose vaccine or the one-dose vaccine, and exemptions have been reviewed and processed. Surveyors may begin surveying for compliance the same day.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

The Missouri Medicaid caseload grew by 35,500 in December to a record 1.18 million participants. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Missouri’s Medicaid caseload has grown by 336,000, or nearly 40%. The number of children covered has increased by 173,000 during this time. The December case count also includes 53,600 Medicaid expansion adults, an increase of 32,000 from November.

Along with the addition of expansion adults, the record growth in the caseload is driven by the federal government’s pandemic response, which prohibits states from ending participants’ Medicaid coverage while the COVID-19 public health emergency is in effect unless the participant moves to another state, dies or requests that their coverage end. The current PHE will remain in effect through mid-April.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade or Sarah Willson

MHD temporarily will continue to reimburse telehealth procedures that are delivered under conditions that previously were waived under the state COVID-19 emergency declaration until CMS approves the excision of the waivered provisions from the Medicaid state plan. MHD reimbursement includes requirements for an established patient relationship and that out of state providers be licensed to practice in Missouri.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

Effective Jan. 15, MHD will reimburse pharmacists who dispense at-home medication disposal packets to eligible MO HealthNet participants who are at risk of opiate-related overdose. Pharmacists will provide patient education on opioid overdose risk factors and proper disposal of unused medications. MHD will reimburse providers $1.20 for each packet dispensed plus the standard dispensing fee.