Laura Shamblin posted:I have an Oklahoma State Senator willing to propose a bill to allow our state medicaid to reimburse providers to screen for ACEs. Currently the federal match is only $2.77 and ours is not even activated to be used. You may want to check your state. To reimburse more the state legislature would need to set aside money for it like I know CA did. I could use any information either about the specific bill in CA that did it - I'm having trouble finding the language used- or any other state that has done this that we could use as an example. Any help appreciated - looking for specific state bills. Thanks Laura Shamblin, MD
Laura, the best source of information on screening under the Medicaid program in California is ACEs Aware, led by California’s Surgeon General, Nadine Burke Harris. Below is the excerpt from the CA Budget for 2019-2020 relating to ACEs screening.
In a Dec. 4 webinar, Dr. Burke Harris reported that $40.8M has been allocated for ACE screenings of young children and adults receiving Medi-Cal and that the Department of Health Care Services will provide a $29 payment to Medi-Cal providers for trauma screenings for adults and children, beginning January 1, 2020. She also said that there is an allocation of $50M (plus match) over three years for robust provider training and engagement activities to equip Medi-Cal providers to screen for ACEs and respond with trauma-informed care.
In addition, it has been reported that the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reimburses physicians for ACEs screening of children (21 & younger) under EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment) as of February of 2017. Reimbursement rates are low and embedded with other services such as well child exams and it is not clear that many physicians are aware of the policy.
Also, if you go the legislative route, I can share bills from other states. Hope this is helpful.
Excerpt from the California State Budget 2019-2020 (pg. 30)
Released January 10, 2019
http://ebudget.ca.gov/FullBudgetSummary.pdf
EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND WELLNESS
TRAUMA AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS
Research shows that individuals who experienced adverse childhood experiences are at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, and premature death. Identifying cases of trauma in children and adults and providing treatment can lower long-term health costs and support individual and family wellness and healing.
The Budget includes $30.8 million ongoing federal funds and $23.1 million ongoing Proposition 56 funds for developmental screenings for children in the Medi-Cal program and $27.2 million ongoing federal funds and $13.6 million ongoing Proposition 56 funds for trauma screenings for children and adults in the Medi-Cal program. In addition, the Budget includes $25 million federal funds and $25 million Proposition 56 funds (as part of a total investment of $120 million one-time combined federal and Proposition 56 funds over three years) to train providers on delivering trauma screenings. The increased funding for these programs will be suspended on December 31, 2021. The suspension will be lifted if the administration determines through the 2021 Budget Act process that there is sufficient General Fund revenue to support all suspended programs in the subsequent two fiscal years.