CMS Firmly Opposed to Lifetime Limits on Medicaid

U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma said the Trump administration is firmly opposed to lifetime limits on Medicaid benefits, reports MedPage Today . When CMS recently rejected Kansas' request for a 3-year lifetime cap for its Medicaid recipients, "We indicated we would not approve lifetime limits, and have made that pretty clear to states," she said. However, the agency is encouraging states that want to include some form of work requirement—known at CMS as "community engagement"—for able-bodied adults in the Medicaid program. Community engagement programs usually require recipients to either be working, going to school, or volunteering in the community. Older adults, recipients with disabilities, and children are exempted. Verma noted that other federal-state programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also include work requirements. Verma worked to distinguish the two types of populations in the Medicaid program now that some states have expanded it. For the Medicaid expansion population, which mostly includes able-bodied individuals, "the goal should be not only to provide healthcare coverage but also to provide a pathway out of poverty." She was more cautious about Wisconsin's request to test its Medicaid recipients for drugs. States may want to consider "ideas around risk assessment and not only identifying substance abuse but also performing a comprehensive health assessment to look at all the health issues a person may be facing," she said.