CMS Approves Behavioral Health Portion Of Alaska’s 1115 Waiver

On September 3, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the behavioral health portion of Alaska’s 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver. The waiver amendment is effective through December 31, 2023. Under the waiver, Medicaid behavioral health services will be administered by Optum, which was awarded an administrative services organization (ASO) contract on May 13, 2019. As the ASO, Optum will administer all existing and upcoming publicly funded behavioral health services provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Once new state regulations are in place, DHSS will cover a full array of 1115 Medicaid . . .