Medicaid Services “Received Through” an Indian Health Service/Tribal Facility: A Request for Comment

Today the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Comment on a proposed change that CMS is considering regarding the circumstances in which 100 percent federal funding would be available for services furnished to Medicaid-eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) through facilities of the Indian Health Service (IHS) or Tribes. This is only a request for comment, not official policy. CMS is in the process of updating its tribal policy as is considering policy changes outlined in the request for comment with the intent of improving access to care, care coordination, and the quality of care for AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. This Request for Comment paper describes the policy options under consideration and seeks feedback from states, Tribes, and other stakeholders. The comment period will be open for three weeks and will close on November 17, 2015.

The Request for Comment paper is available on Medicaid.gov athttp://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/indian-health-and-medicaid/indian-health-medicaid.html