State Moving Forward on Relief Funding for HCBS Providers

OAMES' Efforts Paying Off for Ohio's HME Community

OAMES remains committed to gaining funding relief for our members with Ohio’s portion of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) for home- and community-based services providers (HCBS).  As we reported in OAMES 1/10/22 eBulletin, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) has included DMEPOS providers on the list of those who will receive funds after intense efforts by OAMES to gain that status over the past nine months including testimonies before the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee.  

ODM, along with Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, hosted a stakeholder meeting on 3/04/22 providing new information.  Please review the following summary and join us March 16 on OAMES Spring Medicaid Webinar for all the latest on this welcome news for OAMES members who have been valuable front-line workers during these challenging times.

Recap of the relief affecting the DMEPOS provider sector: 

• Assuming CMS’s final approval, Non-institutional DMEPOS providers will be given a “retro rate increase, approximately 10% lump sum for claim period 7/01/2020 through 6/30/2021”. NEW!  The DMEPOS provider relief applies to BOTH fee-for-service and managed care claims.
• HME providers supplying HME and supplies, home modifications and other services for Ohio’s waiver programs (PASSPORT and Ohio Home Care) will receive a “retro rate increase, approximately 10% lump sum for claim period 11/01/20 through 10/31/2021”. This has already been approved by CMS and distribution of the funds is underway.
• “Provider Relief” is one of four “buckets” that Ohio is considering for the use of ARPA HCBS funds. Other ideas under consideration are technology advancements, workforce support and program and system enhancements.  These would require legislative authorization and CMS approval as well as state rules for implementation.  More to come on those opportunities.

New information on the status of this relief:

• As noted above, the funding relief for DMEPOS providers applies to BOTH fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care plans. This was OAMES’ initial ask to ODM last summer and huge news for our members. In January, ODM announced the relief was limited to FFS claims.
• FFS payments will be issued through MITS using a special payment cycle. Each managed care plan will be required to issue payment directly to providers.
• Waiver providers will begin receiving payments as early as this week. OAMES members have reported receiving email notices with this information on 3/02/22.
• ODM reports that CMS’ approval is pending to issue relief funds for DMEPOS providers and other provider sectors. The timeframe is not certain but ODM indicates that they are ready to move quickly.  Once the approval is received, the Governor will need to sign an Executive Order to authorize emergency rules to release the funds.

To learn more about ARPA relief, join us for next week’s OAMES Medicaid webinar.  See information below with a link to online registration.  We’ll continue to monitor ARPA developments and share news with members as it occurs. 

OAMES Spring Medicaid Webinar to Feature Next Generation, HME Rules & ARPA Updates

Don’t forget to sign up for OAMES Spring Medicaid Webinar to be held in partnership with the Ohio Department of Medicaid next Wednesday, March 16, at 10:00 – 11:30 am Eastern.  If you serve Ohio Medicaid consumers, you’ll won’t want to miss this informative program for all of the latest on HME policies, managed care transitions and ARPA news.

The agenda features the following:

• Ohio’s “Next Generation” Medicaid managed care program update by Jim Tassie, ODM Deputy Director – Overview, member transition and enrollment, communications, processes, timeline and what’s next for 7/01/22 “go live”;
• Policy update by Mark Rogers, ODM Non-Institutional Policy Section – Review of HME rules including new policy projects in the works for 2022;
• Latest on the American Rescue Plan Act funding relief for home and community-based services including DMEPOS providers and Waiver programs by OAMES leaders.

Sign-up details!

• Registration rates are $49 for OAMES members per line; $89 for non-members.
• Each registrant will receive an email with log-in information prior to the webinar from OAMES staff member Nichole Glenn – do not share, this is unique for each registrant.
• NOTE:  Emails with Go To Webinar log-in details have been sent to everyone who has registered to-date.  If you need it resent, email Kam Yuricich.
• Time is running out! Registration closes at noon on 3/15/22.
• Prior to the webinar, you’ll receive OAMES eBulletin with the presentation slide decks. 
• If you have any questions, email OAMES executive director Kam Yuricich.

>> CLICK HERE to Register Securely Online! <<