Friday’s Medicaid Council touched on several critical
issues. We got an update, of sorts, on the fate of HUSKY
parents facing the loss of coverage in three weeks. 20% of the 13,811
at-risk parents have either re-qualified for Medicaid (the large majority) or
signed up for an AccessHealthCT plan. 3,877 parents from the original number
are already off the program – examples given include no longer having a qualifying
child in the household or moving out of state. No detail on any of these
numbers was given. However AccessHealthCT
is making significant efforts to inform at-risk parents including a link to
Statewide Legal Services of CT’s fact sheets in English and Spanish that include
full information about options and how to prepare for those who will likely
become uninsured.
We also heard about very different decisions on provider
rate cuts. Planned 5% dental rate cuts have been reduced to 3% or 2% and will,
in part, drive quality by reversing payment for sealants and fillings that
failed before they should have. However the proposed rate cut to home health
agencies for medication administration will go forward unchanged despite a
proposal by the home health providers’ organization that would have filled $13
million of the $14.8 million budget hole. There is an honest disagreement about
appropriate levels of care. Concerns were raised that this cut will reduce
access to critical services, especially for behavioral health care, and could
interfere with progress keeping people in community settings.
We also heard about the promising shift of autism
service delivery to DSS and Beacon Health, the behavioral health ASO.
Services include behavioral treatment as well as access to peer specialists and
care coordinators. DSS and Beacon are working to improve initial assessments
and recruit new providers. It is hoped that the shift will expand access to
high quality care for people with autism spectrum disorder.
