Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018 1:23 PM
Agencies do not have too much to worry about. Payments to providers fall outside of the budget. All MACs will remain open and should process outstanding invoices. What may be harder is to get answers from CMS on any outstanding questions. “CMS will continue key Federal Exchange activities, such as open enrollment eligibility verification, using Federal Exchange user fee carryover. In the short term, the Medicare Program will continue largely without disruption during a lapse in appropriations. Additionally, other non-discretionary activities including Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control, and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation activities would continue. States will have sufficient funding for Medicaid through the second quarter, due to the continuation of authority under the CR for appropriated entitlements, and CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states from remaining Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) carryover balances.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has been impacted with approximately 50% of all employees furloughed However, It may be that HHS would use the full extent of the authority under the Antideficiency Act to protect the health of Americans under a lapse in appropriations. This plan represents initial estimates for HHS activities under a lapse. Over the duration of any lapse, HHS would continue to review its resources and authorities to minimize impact of such a lapse.
Click here for the full contingency plan.
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