State Wants Feds To Waive Medicaid Reqs Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is asking the federal government to OK changes to its Medicaid program during the COVID-19 crisis.

According to data from DHHS, Michigan had 9,334 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 337 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon. State health officials believe the actual number of cases is much higher, but there’s been a testing shortage.

On Wednesday, DHHS also made a request with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to temporarily waive several Medicaid requirements:

• Suspending the need for new prior authorization requests for medical services and extending existing prior authorization agreements.
• Streamlining enrollment for Medicaid providers and allowing approved out-of-state providers to begin serving beneficiaries quickly.

• Allowing telephonic health care services as part of telehealth/telemedicine delivery.
• Waiving quantity limits on durable medical equipment, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
• Removing limitations on providers to allow qualified physician assistants and nurses to treat COVID-19 patients.

“Michiganders need to stay home and stay safe,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “They also need easy access to health care coverage now more than ever. That’s why we need to suspend the red tape to make it easier for Medicaid beneficiaries to receive the services they need to stay healthy during this national crisis.

COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus, has the potential to cause serious and fatal complications for individuals with underlying medical conditions, meaning some Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries could be at an elevated risk

“These essential changes will ensure Medicaid beneficiaries have access to health care coverage, medicine and providers while also preventing potentially dangerous face-to-face interactions,” Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said

The presidential declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic as a national emergency previously allowed CMS to waive certain requirements in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under Section 1135 emergency authority

Waivers would end upon termination of the public health emergency, including any extensions

Whitmer formally declared a state of disaster in Michigan on Wednesday and has asked the Legislature to OK an extension on the state of emergency for 70 days, the Advance previously reported, but some Republicans are wary.

This story was originally published by the Michigan Advance. For more stories from the Michigan Advance, visit MichiganAdvance.com.