State Medicaid Agencies Required To Monitor Effects of Provider Payment Cuts on Care Access

CMS on Thursday released a final rule that requires state Medicaid agencies to monitor how cuts to provider payment rates affect beneficiaries' access to care. Under the rule, states will have to measure Medicaid beneficiaries' access to care and providers, beneficiaries' care needs and beneficiaries' use of health care services. The states' assessments must take place beginning the first year of the payment reductions and then every three years. Any state that discovers access issues would need to submit a correction plan within 90 days from when the problem was identified.

• "CMS Rule Addresses How Provider Payment Cuts Hurt Medicaid Beneficiaries" (Muchmore, Modern Healthcare, 10/29).