MACPAC Urges HHS to Provide Advance Notice on Timeline for Ending PHE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) submitted a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on the need for clear and timely guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to state Medicaid and CHIP programs when HHS elects to end the current public health emergency (PHE). MACPAC is a non-partisan agency that provides recommendations to Congress, HHS, and the states on Medicaid and CHIP issues.

In the letter, MACPAC explained that due to Medicaid/CHIP programs operating in alliance with federal and state governments, regulatory flexibilities set by CMS during the emergency cannot be simply removed. CMS will need to provide a clear roadmap and expectations for Medicaid/CHIP programs. In addition, returning to prior policies and practices will require significant coordination and planning. CMS will need to give Medicaid/CHIP programs considerable notice, especially during this financially straining time for state Medicaid authorities.
 
Read MACPAC’s full letter here.