Frequently Asked Questions are used to provide additional information and/or statutory guidance not found in State Medicaid Director Letters, State Health Official Letters, or CMCS Informational Bulletins. The different sets of FAQs as originally released can be accessed below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a validation error within a submission package?
A validation error occurs when additional information is required for certain fields on a page. This error will be indicated by red script on the page under the section that was required. In order to avoid a validation error, enter in all required information before attempting to validate data. For many screens this will occur upon selecting a button located towards the bottom of the page to validate your entries.
FAQ ID:92936
SHARE URLWhat reports are available to State Users?
This table indicates what reports are available to State Users. These can be found under the "Reports" tab.
Report Name | Description | Available For |
State Agency Profile Report | Overview of a State's Medicaid Plan including the prior 12 months' submission package history | State Point of Contact; State Director |
Submission Detail Report | View details on packages by date | State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director |
Submission Statistics Detail Report | View all Submission Packages currently in review | State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director |
Submission Summary Report | Overview of submitted packages by date | State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director |
FAQ ID:92941
SHARE URLOnce a state submits a submission package to CMS, is the content locked?
Once a state submits a submission package to CMS, they may not edit it while it is in review. The state may withdraw the submission package, but once withdrawn, the package cannot be edited or resubmitted.
CMS may open the package for revisions informally via a clarification request. Clarification questions are entered into the Correspondence Log. The CPOC can compile questions from the Submission Review Team members by accessing the Analyst Notes. Please note, that the reviews of every RU does not have to be completed in order to send a request for Clarification to the State. During a Clarification, the State will have the opportunity to edit content. After the state has responded to Clarification, the CMS Point of Contact must assign Submission Review Team members to Reviewable Units again and review the submission package again.
After requesting Clarification, CMS (specifically the CPOC) has the option to prevent package submission. This is a way for CMS to pull the package back from the Clarification request. This may be necessary as the clock continues during the Clarification period. The CMS review team may not continue their review while the package is back with the State for Clarification, therefore the CPOC should exercise caution when to sending a Clarification, knowing that review will be temporarily suspended.
Another option is after CMS Point of Contact has reviewed the submission package, he/she has the option to Request Additional Information regarding the submission package. All Reviewable Units must appear in the complete status (represented by a checkmark) by having at least one Review Team member complete the review in order to initiate RAI. RAI stops the 90 Day Clock. In this option, the State will have the opportunity to edit content.
FAQ ID:92991
SHARE URLHow do I access previous reports for my state?
Select the "Records" tab in the upper tool bar. Click on the Quality Measure you are working with and then search for the report you would like to view by entering the report package ID.
FAQ ID:92996
SHARE URLIs there a way to attach additional information or appendices to a report?
Yes, at the end of each report there is an "Upload Documents" section that allows you to upload any relevant documents.
FAQ ID:93011
SHARE URLUnder CMS 2370-F, please explain when salaried primary care providers are eligible for the enhanced payment under section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act and whether the employing organization, i.e. a clinic, physician group or hospital, may retain any additional payment received pursuant to this provision.
Generally, the purpose of the 1202 payment increase is to directly benefit physicians performing primary care services. In the instance of salaried physicians, including those working for clinics or other employing organizations that bill on the Medicaid physician fee schedule, this could come in the form of an increased salary. Alternatively, where there is an employment agreement between the physician and the employing entity, the employment agreement might account for the payment increase by noting that the physician accepts his or her salary as payment in full, regardless of Medicaid reimbursement levels.
FAQ ID:91081
SHARE URLUnder CMS 2370-F, are there circumstances in which the enhanced payment under section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will not be paid?
To the extent that physicians are already receiving payment for Medicaid services that is at least equal to the Medicare rate as required under section 1202 of the ACA, no additional payment under section 1202 should be made to either a managed care health plan or to a group practice or similar organization that employs physicians. The additional payment is to ensure that payment to the physician is at least equal to the 1202 Medicare rate.
FAQ ID:91086
SHARE URLUnder CMS 2370-F, if a state uses vaccine product codes to pay for vaccine administration, must it submit a new ACA 1202 state plan amendment (SPA) when those product codes change?
States that pay for vaccine administration using the vaccine product codes were required to include a crosswalk to their administration codes as part of their ACA 1202 state plan amendment (SPA). They will therefore be required to submit a new SPA to reflect any changes in those codes. If a state does not use vaccine product codes to pay for vaccine administration and therefore there is no crosswalk in their 1202 SPA, then no updates are necessary to reflect the code changes.
FAQ ID:91091
SHARE URLUnder CMS 2370-F, must a state submit a new state plan amendment (SPA) if it chooses to provide coverage for a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) billing code within the range of E&M codes specified in the law and regulation?
Yes. The original SPAs contained a list of codes that had been added since 2009 that the state was planning on reimbursing at the higher ACA 1202 rate. Therefore, if a state adds codes, it should submit a revised SPA page, updating that list of codes eligible for higher payment.
FAQ ID:91096
SHARE URLUnder CMS 2370-F, may practice managers or billing staff of large group practices and health systems attest on behalf of their physicians on the basis of information on board certification in the records of the practice or health system?
If these practices and health systems maintain the types of documentation described in the previous answer, FAQ45736, with respect to managed care organizations, attestation by the group or system would be acceptable. As previously noted, a physician actually must be practicing as an internist, pediatrician or family physician in order to be eligible for higher payment. Board certification does not always equate to practice characteristics. Therefore, attestation on the basis of information on board certification alone would not suffice.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:93866
SHARE URL