Governor Inslee announced this week that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a $1.5 billion investment over the next five years to transform Medicaid. The announcement follows months of negotiation, and the funds will come through a 1115 Waiver.
The Health Care Authority (HCA) and CMS will work together in the coming months to finalize terms and conditions, and the waiver will take effect once they reach an agreement. WSHA will work to help our members understand the opportunities presented to our state through this unique chance to make significant investments and changes to the Medicaid system.
CMS will closely monitor the state’s progress, and it expects measurable results. The goals for Medicaid include lowering utilization of high cost services; improving population health in diabetes and cardiovascular disease, pediatric obesity, smoking, mental illness, and substance abuse; accelerating value-based payment; and bending the cost curve below the national trend. (Chelene Whiteaker)