NAMD Calls for Swift Action from the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services and the Office of Management and Budget to Ensure Provider Solvency

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented crisis for Medicaid providers, many of whom experienced increases in operating costs and decreases in visit volume and predictability. In order to ensure that these providers can keep their doors open, NAMD wrote to CMCS and OMB requesting that states be granted the authority to make retainer payments to a broad array of Medicaid providers through Section 1115 waivers. NAMD also outlined guardrails that could be placed on these payments to ensure providers maintain staffing, prevent duplicate payments, and minimize overlap with other federal resources.