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Tribal Technical Advisory Group Update. NIHB Consumer Conference September, 2011. Outline. Introduction to the TTAG Why Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare are Important Successes Opportunities / Challenges of ACA Medicaid and Medicare Policy Committee invitation. Tribal Technical Advisory Group.
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Tribal Technical Advisory GroupUpdate NIHB Consumer Conference September, 2011
Outline • Introduction to the TTAG • Why Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare are Important • Successes • Opportunities / Challenges of ACA • Medicaid and Medicare Policy Committee invitation
Tribal Technical Advisory Group • Tribal advisory committee to CMS Administrator • Enhance Government-to-Government relationship • Honor Federal trust responsibilities • Increase understanding between CMS and Tribes • Does not substitute for tribal consultation • Representatives • Tribal leader or designee from each IHS Area (12) • National Indian Health Board (1) • Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (1) • National Congress of American Indians (1) • Urban Indian Health Program (1) • Indian Health Service (1)
Don Warne (Aberdeen) Valerie Davidson (Alaska), Chair Carolyn Finster (Albuquerque) Kathy Hughes (Bemidji) Patricia Enos-Bergie (Billings) Jim Crouch (California) Donita Stephens (Nashville) Rex Lee Jim (Navajo) Judy Goforth Parker (Oklahoma) David Reede (Phoenix) Pearl Capoeman-Baller (Portland) Grace Manuel (Tucson) W. Ron Allen (TSGAC), Co-Chair H. Sally Smith (NIHB) Jason Dollarhide (NCAI) Carmelita Skeeter (NCUIH) Carl Harper (IHS) TTAG Membership
Cecelia Fire Thunder (Aberdeen) Jim Lamb (Alaska) TBA (Albuquerque) Phil Norrgard (Bemidji) Donna Buckles-Whitmer (Billings) James Russ (California) Dee Sabattus (Nashville) Roselyn Begay (Navajo) Rhonda Butcher (Oklahoma) Pam Thompson (Phoenix) Jim Roberts (Portland) Chester Antone (Tucson) Mickey Peercy (TSGAC) TBA (NIHB) Juana Majel-Dixon (NCAI) Toni Lodge (NCUIH) Dorothy Dupree (IHS) TTAG Alternates
Why focus on Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP? • Indian Health Service only receives half of the level of funding needed to provide basic health care services. • No medical inflation increases. • Due to the gap between IHS funding and need, health services (including Long Term Care services) to AI/ANs are severely rationed.
Authority to Bill • Due to this disparity, Congress authorized IHS facilities to recover reimbursements from: • Medicaid, • Medicare, • State Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and • Private insurance
States Benefit with Medicaid • For average Medicaid beneficiary, CMS pays: • Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to States to help pay for Medicaid services • States make up the difference. • For a $1,000 service in a state with 58% FMAP: • $ 580 federal dollars • $ 420 state match $1,000 total
States Benefit with Medicaid • For AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries: • States receive 100% FMAP, • For care receive in an IHS facility in recognition of the federal trust responsibility • For a $1,000 service in a state with 58% FMAP for AI/AN who receives care in IHS facility : • $1,000 federal dollars • $ 0 state match $1,000 total • $420 savings to the State General Fund when AI/AN Medicaid patients use the Indian Health System.
What does this mean? • In order for AI/ANs to be able to access Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP programs in a meaningful and sustainable way, cooperation is required by all three: • IHS / Tribally Operated Programs / Urban Programs • CMS • States
Example of LTC implementation challenge in Indian Country: • Sustainability: 4 must-haves for Self-Governance Tribes • Tribe • Design program to meet needs • Negotiate language in Funding Agreement (FA) • Indian Health Service • Negotiate acceptable FA language • CMS • Provides 100% Federal Medical Assistance to the State for Medicaid • State • Provides Medicaid reimbursement to the Tribe
New Reality • For 100% FMAP to apply, it must be included in the State Plan • Some States are cutting budgets • Reimbursements • Programs • Educate states about opportunities for savings: • Enhance I/T/U ability to provide care
Some Progress • Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) • American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) • Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act • Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Recommended PPACA measures • Significantly increase rate of health care coverage for AI/AN • Financially strengthen Indian Health providers so programs can expand service capacity and access to health care • Significantly reduce AI/AN health disparities • Ensure that tribal leaders and staff receive PPACA training and resources to enroll people
Recommended PPACA measures • Ensure that our communities benefit from new grant and other funding opportunities • Implement Indian specific provisions effectively and efficiently • Expressly mention I/T/Us in regulation to protect the Indian Health system from adverse unintended consequences • Require all HHS agencies to engage in meaningful tribal consultation on implementation
Opportunities • Cost Sharing under an Exchange Program • No cost-sharing for AI/ANs who receive their care through I/T/U or through Contract Health • No cost-sharing for AI/ANs up to 300% FPL • Income exemptions for certain property • Reimbursement from VA/DoD • Stronger reimbursement language
Challenges • Benefits are dependent on the definition of Indian • Income/incentive payments and penalties • Need Indian addendum for Exchange Plans • Data requirements
Want more? • Medicaid and Medicare Policy Committee (MMPC) of the NIHB • Sally Smith, Chair of the MMPC • Conference calls held to discuss all Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP policy issues. • To join, contact Tyra Baer at NIHB at tbaer@nihb.org
Questions? Valerie Davidson, TTAG Chair Ron Allen, TTAG Co-Chair ANTHC Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Ph: 907-729-1900 Ph: 360-681-4621 Email: vdavidson@anthc.org Email: rallen@jamestowntribe.org Kitty Marx Tyra Baer CMS Tribal Affairs Group National Indian Health Board Ph: 410-786-8619 Ph: 202-507-4070 Email: kitty.marx@cms.hhs.gov Email: tbaer@nihb.org www.cmsttag.org