West Virginia Medicaid, SCHIP, & Federal Authority

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) - In May 2006, West Virginia received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to move forward on plans to redesign its Medicaid program. Taking advantage of the flexibility outlined in the DRA, West Virginia utilized the state plan amendment process. A four-year, phased in implementation began in July 2006. The West Virginia reform streamlines eligibility and moves healthy children and parents into one of two plans:

• Basic Plan: The plan covers all mandatory and some optional services, but benefits are more limited than the state’s previous Medicaid benefits package. Children continue to receive services under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. Enrollees can access additional benefits covered by the Enhanced Plan by signing a member agreement.  
• Enhanced Plan: For individuals who have signed a member agreement, this plan covers all the services included in the Basic Plan plus mental health services, diabetes care, and prescription drugs above the four-drug limit in the Basic Plan. The Enhanced Plan is comparable to the state’s previous Medicaid benefits package.

The cornerstone of West Virginia’s plan is the member agreement and the Healthy Rewards pilot program. Enrollees who sign a member agreement, a ‘personal responsibility contract,’ are enrolled in the Enhanced Plan and receive a fixed amount of credits per quarter in a Healthy Rewards account. The credits can be used to cover medical and pharmaceutical co-pays and bonus credits are added for meeting health goals. Individuals who do not meet their responsibilities are moved to the more limited Basic Plan.

State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) Expansion – In December 2006, West Virginia received approval from CMS to increase SCHIP eligibility from 200 percent of the FPL to 220 percent of the FPL. Children in the new eligibility level will have different cost-sharing requirements and benefits from children with family incomes at or below 200 percent of the FPL. For example, individuals in the expanded eligibility category will be required to pay monthly premiums and will not receive vision services.