97-21439. New and Pending Demonstration Project Proposals Submitted Pursuant to Section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act: June 1997

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43541-43542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21439]



[[Page 43541]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[ORD-102-N]


New and Pending Demonstration Project Proposals Submitted 
Pursuant to Section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act: June 1997

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: One new proposal for Medicaid demonstration projects was 
submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services during the 
month of June 1997 under the authority of section 1115 of the Social 
Security Act. No proposals were approved, disapproved, or withdrawn 
during that time period. (This notice can be accessed on the Internet 
at http://www.hcfa.gov/ord/sect1115.htm.)

COMMENTS: We will accept written comments on this proposal. We will, if 
feasible, acknowledge receipt of all comments, but we will not provide 
written responses to comments. We will, however, neither approve nor 
disapprove any new proposal for at least 30 days after the date of this 
notice to allow time to receive and consider comments. Direct comments 
as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Mail correspondence to: Susan Anderson, Office of Research 
and Demonstrations, Health Care Financing Administration, Mail Stop C3-
11-07, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Anderson, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (the Act), the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may consider and approve 
research and demonstration proposals with a broad range of policy 
objectives. These demonstrations can lead to improvements in achieving 
the purposes of the Act.
    In exercising her discretionary authority, the Secretary has 
developed a number of policies and procedures for reviewing proposals. 
On September 27, 1994, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(59 FR 49249) that specified: (1) The principles that we ordinarily 
will consider when approving or disapproving demonstration projects 
under the authority in section 1115(a) of the Act; (2) the procedures 
we expect States to use in involving the public in the development of 
proposed demonstration projects under section 1115; and (3) the 
procedures we ordinarily will follow in reviewing demonstration 
proposals. We are committed to a thorough and expeditious review of 
State requests to conduct such demonstrations.
    As part of our procedures, we publish a notice in the Federal 
Register with a monthly listing of all new submissions, pending 
proposals, approvals, disapprovals, and withdrawn proposals. Proposals 
submitted in response to a grant solicitation or other competitive 
process are reported as received during the month that grant or bid is 
awarded, so as to prevent interference with the awards process.

II. Listing of New, Pending, Approved, Disapproved, and Withdrawn 
Proposals for the Month of June 1997

A. Comprehensive Health Reform Programs

1. New Proposals
    No new proposals were received during the month of June.
2. Pending Proposal
    Pending proposals for the month of May 1997 referenced in the 
Federal Register of July 17, 1997 (62 FR 38314) remain unchanged, 
except for the addition of the following proposal.
    Demonstration Title/State: ARKids First Program--Arkansas 
Description: The State is proposing to expand Medicaid eligibility and 
access to health care services for children age 18 and under with gross 
family income at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level. The 
intent of the waiver is to cover all children not otherwise Medicaid 
eligible at this income level statewide and to expand access to 
preventative health care.
    Date Received: May 16, 1997.
    State Contact: Binnie Alberius, Arkansas Department of Human 
Services, Division of Medical Services, Donaghey Plaza South, P.O. Box 
1437, Little Rock, AK 72203-1437, [phone].
    Federal Project Officer: Joan Peterson, Ph.D., Health Care 
Financing Administration, Office of Research and Demonstrations, Office 
of State Health Reform Demonstrations, Mail Stop C3-18-26, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
3. Approved Conceptual Proposals (Award of Waivers Pending)
    No conceptual proposals were approved during the month of June.
4. Approved, Disapproved, and Withdrawn Proposals
    No proposals were approved, disapproved, or withdrawn during the 
month of June.

B. Other Section 1115 Demonstration Proposals

1. New Proposal
    The following proposal was received during the month of June.
    Demonstration Title/State: Maine-Net--Integrated Managed Health 
Care Plans--Maine.
    Description: The Maine-Net project is a two-site demonstration 
designed to test the efficiency and effectiveness of financing and 
delivery systems which integrate primary, acute, and long-term care 
services under a combination of Medicaid capitation payments, Medicare 
fee-for-service, and/or primary care case management. Participants will 
be both Medicaid only and dually eligible Medicare/Medicaid 
beneficiaries who are 65 or older or physically disabled. Enrollment 
will be mandatory.
    Date Received: June 2, 1997.
    State Contact: Christine Gianopoulos, Bureau of Elder and Adult 
Services, Maine Department of Human Services, 35 Anthony Avenue, State 
House Station 11, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011, [phone].
    Federal Project Officer: Kay Lewandowski, Health Care Financing 
Administration, Office of Strategic Planning, Mail Stop C3-23-04, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    Demonstration Title/State: Mass Health Senior Care Options--
Massachusetts.
    Description: The Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance 
submitted a demonstration waiver application for both Medicare (Section 
222) and Medicaid (Section 1115) programs. The application would 
establish integrated care to persons 65 years of age and older who are 
eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid through voluntary enrollment in 
Senior Care Organizations (SCO). SCOs are expected to be available 
statewide. In addition to Federal demonstration waivers, enabling 
legislation in Massachusetts is also necessary.
    Date Received: June 12, 1997.
    State Contact: Kate Willrich, Managed Care Program Development, 
Division of Medical Assistance, 600 Washington Street, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02111, [phone].
    Federal Project Officer: William D. Clark, Health Care Financing 
Administration, Office of Strategic

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Planning, Mail Stop C3-21-06, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850.
2. Pending, Approved, Disapproved, and Withdrawn Proposals
    No proposals approved, disapproved, or withdrawn during the month 
of June.
    Pending proposals for the month of May 1997 referenced in the 
Federal Register of July 17, 1997 (62 FR 38314) remain unchanged.

III. Requests for Copies of a Proposal

    Requests for copies of a specific Medicaid proposal should be made 
to the State contact listed for the specific proposal. If further help 
or information is needed, inquiries should be directed to HCFA at the 
address above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program, No. 93.779; Health 
Financing Research, Demonstrations, and Experiments)

    Dated: August 6, 1997.
Barbara Cooper,
Acting Director, Office of Research and Demonstrations.
[FR Doc. 97-21439 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
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