Let’s Celebrate: CMS Withdraws MFAR Proposed Rule

Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it was withdrawing its proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR). WSHA was very pleased with this result. The rule, if finalized would have jeopardized significant amounts of federal Medicaid funding for critical Medicaid services by redefining and restricting how state and local governments can provide the state funds component. WSHA submitted comments urging CMS to not finalize the proposal, as did the American Hospital Association, skilled nursing facility associations, state Medicaid agencies and other advocacy groups. (Andrew Busz, andrewb@wsha.org)