Department of Health and Human Services July 15, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule would remove the regulatory text that sets forth the current required process for states to document whether Medicaid payments in fee-for-service systems are sufficient to enlist enough providers to assure beneficiary access to covered care and services consistent with the Medicaid statute. States have raised concerns over the administrative burden associated with the current regulatory requirements. While we believe the process described in the current regulatory text is a valuable tool for states to use to demonstrate the sufficiency of provider payment rates, we believe mandating states to collect the specific information as described excessively constrains state freedom to administer the program in the manner that is best for the state and Medicaid beneficiaries in the state.