Ask any parent or caregiver of a child with special health care needs about what they think would help increase the quality of their child's care and one of the ideas you are likely to hear is 'better communication and coordination among providers'.  

On November 16^th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released preliminary guidance to state Medicaid directors on a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that aims to do just that for children and adults with certain kinds of chronic conditions. Section 2703, the "State Option to Provide Health Homes for Enrollees with Chronic Conditions," was built in part on the pediatric medical home model and allows states to receive an enhanced federal contribution for providing health homes for two years. 

The CMS letter offers guidance on provider standards, eligibility criteria for Medicaid enrollees, service definitions, information on how states can apply for planning grants and which reimbursement methods are allowed. An attachment to the guidance letter includes a state plan amendment template, which can be submitted to CMS after January 1, 2011.

...Click here to read the guidance letter to State Medicaid Directors from CMS

Survey Reports Near Universal Coverage of Massachusetts Children: The Work is Worth It

Lessons learned from Massachusetts' experience with state-based health care reform has been and should continue to prove valuable as federal health care reform moves forward.  One lesson we can take from the Commonwealth's recently released

2010 State Insurance Survey is that the work of promoting and defending health care reform is especially worth it when it comes to children's coverage.  According to the survey, in 2010 the rate of uninsurance for children in Massachusetts was 0.2%.  That's not a typo; it's zero point two percent or virtually universal coverage.

Briefing to Release 50-State Data on Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment Policies as States Cope with Recession and Plan for Health Reform
 Presented by: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Date: Tuesday, January 11  9:30 am 
Time: 9:30 - 11 am ET
Place: Barbara Jordon Conference Center, Washington, DC
During this policy briefing the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured will be exploring the role of Medicaid and CHIP in providing coverage for millions of people during a time of recession. During the briefing the Commission will also be releasing it's 10th Annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules, enrollment and renewal policies, and cost sharing practices for children, pregnant women, parents and other non-disabled adults. For more information and to register please visit the KFF website.