CMS Issues ARRA Medicaid Guidance on Indian Care

Washington, Jan. 28 – State Medicaid directors now have federal guidance to help them implement provisions under Section 5006 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These provisions offer cost sharing protections and other various exemptions under Medicaid for Indian beneficiaries and participants served by Indian health providers.

Although Medicaid allows states to impose enrollment fees, premiums and cost sharing charges on Medicaid and Children Health Insurance Program participants, Section 5006 of the Recovery Ac precludes them from imposing these charges on Indian applicants, according to the guidance released recently by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.