MACPAC recommends changes to improve Medicaid managed care oversight

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) last week recommended seven changes to Medicaid managed care policy to better monitor denials and improve the appeals process. MACPAC will include the recommendations in its March report to Congress in a chapter describing challenges with the existing processes for appeals and denials by Medicaid managed care organizations.

The commission also discussed potential approaches to improve transparency in Medicaid financing, including requiring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or states to publish provider-level data on provider taxes, fees and other assessments used to finance state Medicaid programs. MACPAC intends to continue the discussion at a future meeting and address the issue in its June report.