On March 22, 2020,  ADvancing States sent a letter to State Medicaid, Aging, and Disability Directors regarding the release of several new CMS tools designed to assist state health programs in their response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The four new CMS tools are:

• A checklist for 1135 waiver applications: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/cms-1135-waivers/index.html;
• A checklist for 1115 waiver submissions: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demonstrations/1115-application-process/index.html;
• A template for State Plan Amendment (SPA) submissions: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/state-plan-flexibilities/index.html; and
• A COVID-specific template for 1915(c) Appendix K [disaster relief] applications: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/hcbs/appendix-k/index.html.

The memo provides details on the contents of the release and reviews the implications for aging, disability, and LTSS services. 

Click here to read the memo.