* 2/13/24 - NASBO Washington Report - CMS Releases Telehealth Toolkit, Behavioral Health Resources......................

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CMS Releases Telehealth Toolkit, Behavioral Health Resources

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released resources on telehealth and mental health services in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). First, CMS released an updated State Medicaid and CHIP Telehealth Toolkit, which serves as a consolidated and comprehensive compilation of telehealth policies for states to consider when using telehealth to deliver Medicaid and CHIP benefits and services. It also provides additional guidance to states on how they can improve access to telehealth for services covered under Medicaid and CHIP. Second, CMS released a set of tools designed to help states improve behavioral health follow-up care including a driver diagram/change ideas table, a measurement strategy, and a highlights brief from the Improving Behavioral Health Follow-Up Care Affinity Group. Additional resources can be found here.
 

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February 20, 2024 This Week in DC   The House and Senate are out.   On Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case seeks to halt implementation of an EPA rule on cross-state pollution, known as the “Good Neighbor Plan.”     IIJA Implementation Resources Released Federal agencies continue to release implementation resources pertaining to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $5.8 billion for states, Tribes, and territories to invest in drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans. The funds are available through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and $3.2 billion to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure. Preliminary allocation tables can be found here. The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $970 million for 114 airports across 44 states and three territories. The funding launches projects that will improve the passenger experience, accessibility and sustainability while creating jobs. A data visualization of recipients can be found here. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a notice on the redistribution of certain authorized funds for the period October 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024. The total amount of authorized funds provided by the notice is $320.5 million and the distribution table can be found here. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $17 million for three projects to support the design and construction of facilities that produce rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials from coal-based resources. The recipients are located in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation provided a first quarter 2024 progress update on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The update notes 33 states have released solicitations for the NEVI program with 16 of the states awarding contracts and installing charging stations. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its acceptance of the first state Digital Equity plan, accepting the plan submitted by Maine. Under the IIJA, $2.75 billion is provided to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. States are continuing to submit their plans for NTIA’s acceptance and NTIA will accept plans on a rolling basis. In the coming months, NTIA will launch the $1.44 billion Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.     IRA Implementation Resources Released The administration recently announced the following implementation resources for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, P.L. 117-169). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $81 million for eligible air agencies to expand and upgrade the nation’s air quality monitoring networks. The funding will support the work of eligible state, local, Tribal, and territorial air agencies in addressing air pollution, including monitoring near fence line communities, developing and refining air toxics monitoring methods, and ensuring cleaner air. EPA is also making approximately $2 million available to support state, local, territorial, and Tribal agencies in the deployment and operation of air quality sensors in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Applications are due by April 8. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the availability of $63 million to accelerate the growth of domestic manufacturing of residential heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and other heat pump systems and components. This investment from the IRA utilizes the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of key clean energy technologies. Concept papers are due by March 15 and full applications are due by April 29. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced $3.9 million in awards to help small businesses improve climate resilience through the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators Program. The investment supports 16 awardees in 11 states to develop and advance new technologies for gathering coastal, ocean and Great Lakes data and observations. A list of recipients is included in the announcement.     CMS Releases Telehealth Toolkit, Behavioral Health Resources The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released resources on telehealth and mental health services in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). First, CMS released an updated State Medicaid and CHIP Telehealth Toolkit, which serves as a consolidated and comprehensive compilation of telehealth policies for states to consider when using telehealth to deliver Medicaid and CHIP benefits and services. It also provides additional guidance to states on how they can improve access to telehealth for services covered under Medicaid and CHIP. Second, CMS released a set of tools designed to help states improve behavioral health follow-up care including a driver diagram/change ideas table, a measurement strategy, and a highlights brief from the Improving Behavioral Health Follow-Up Care Affinity Group. Additional resources can be found here.     CMS Issues Updated Instructions for States on Implementing MSP Final Rule On February 9 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updated instructions for states to implement policies for the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) in the Streamlining Medicaid; Medicare Savings Program Eligibility and Enrollment Final Rule in advance of upcoming compliance dates. The final rule simplifies MSP eligibility and enrollment processes and has varying compliance dates.     CMS Releases Updated Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Payment Technical Guidance Last Thursday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) prospective payment system (PPS) technical guidance for states. The guidance is intended to assist states in developing clinic-specific PPS rates, cost reporting, and claiming Medicaid expenditures. The new guidance supports expansion and extension of the CCBHC Demonstration program as authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) and includes additional payments and flexibilities for CCBHCs. All states participating in the CCBHC Demonstration program are expected to come into compliance with the updated PPS guidance by the start of the demonstration year beginning on or after July 1, 2024.     HHS Launches Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative On Wednesday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the National Governors Association (NGA), announced the launch of the Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative. The new collaborative seeks to bring together state experts, local providers, community partners, and federal experts to develop a better understanding of the challenges being experienced among the postpartum population and support new solutions that will improve postpartum mortality. The six states participating in the collaborative are Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico. In conjunction with this new HHS collaborative, NGA launched their Improving Maternal and Child Health in Rural America State and Territory Policy Learning Collaborative.     DOI Publishes Final Rule on Gaming Compacts On Friday the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a final rule to update the federal regulations regarding Class III Indian gaming compacts. The updated regulations are intended to provide clearer guidance for Tribes and states to negotiate gaming compacts required by the Indian Gaming and Regulatory Act, along with a more transparent and orderly process for Tribes seeking DOI approval of their compacts with states. The new regulations will be effective 30 days after being published in the Federal Register, which is expected in the coming days.     FCC Launches Enhanced Competition Incentive Program Last week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Enhanced Competition Incentive Program (ECIP), which incentivizes wireless licensees to make underutilized spectrum available to small carriers, Tribal Nations, and entities serving rural areas. The new program encourages licensees to partition, disaggregate, or lease spectrum to better match spectrum resources with entities that seek to provide needed services to under-connected communities. All parties to qualifying ECIP transactions will benefit from longer license terms, an extension on construction obligations, and more flexible construction requirements. Additional information can be found here. Recently Released Reports Legal Sports Betting a Growing Source of Tax Revenue for Many States Census Bureau   2024 Public Retirement Systems Study: Trends in Fiscal, Operational and Business Practices National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems   Access in Brief: Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission   How Are Remote and Hybrid Workers Taxed? Tax Foundation   Economic News Job Openings See Little Change in 39 States in December According to data recently released by the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of job openings decreased in 7 states, increased in 4 states, and was little changed in 39 states and the District of Columbia in December. The number of hires increased in 4 states, decreased in 1 state, and was little changed in 45 states and the District, while total separations increased in 2 states, decreased in 5 states, and was little changed in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The number of quits increased in 1 state, decreased in 10 states, and was little changed in 39 states and the District of Columbia. For layoffs and discharges, 4 states had increases and 46 states and the District of Columbia had little change.     Unemployment Claims Reported for Week Ending February 10 The U.S. Department of Labor released unemployment insurance weekly claims data last Thursday that showed for the week ending February 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 212,000. This is a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised level, which was revised up by 2,000 from 218,000 to 220,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,500, an increase of 5,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 212,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending February 3, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 222,164 in the week ending February 10, a decrease of 12,565 (or -5.4 percent) from the previous week.