CMS announces flexibilities for Medicaid 

WASHINGTON – CMS has announced additional flexibilities to help state Medicaid programs provide needed relief to providers and protect access to health coverage after the cyberattack at Change Healthcare. 

CMS is encouraging states to submit Medicaid state plan amendments (SPAs) for authority to make certain interim payments for services providers have rendered but for which the provider cannot submit claims. The agency has now released guidance on related flexibilities, including the option to make interim payments retroactively to the date when claims payment processing was disrupted for affected claims, and the option to start drawing federal financial participation (FFP) as soon as the state submits an appropriate Medicaid SPA, subject to certain guardrails and conditions outlined in the guidance. 

“CMS continues to encourage states and other impacted stakeholders to protect critical links to health care coverage,” the agency stated. “The agency remains in close contact with state Medicaid agencies, health plans, providers, suppliers, and others to better understand their concerns. CMS will continue to work with partners to the full extent of its authority to support those who make health care possible for the millions served by CMS programs.”   

Additionally, CMS previously extended the data submission deadline and is now reopening the 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception Application to provide relief to clinicians impacted by the cyberattack. The application will be open for the remainder of the data submission period, which closes April 15, 2024. 

• Visit https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib031524.pdf to review CMS's bulletin. 
• For details on previous actions implemented for the Medicare program, consult this fact sheet.