Families USA Submits Comments On Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver

Families USA has submitted comments on Montana’s proposed Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Project, the Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Demonstration Program (“HELP Demonstration”). Due to the monumental changes states will undergo due to Republican tax cuts (H.R. 1) the organization urges caution to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The comments recommend a delay in assessment of Montana’s proposed HELP Demonstration — and all other similar state work reporting requirement waivers — until the agency has put implementation regulations in place. We ask CMS to give careful consideration to individual state needs to expand upon the statutory framework where appropriate to ensure eligible individuals can remain covered.

Families USA stands ready to engage with CMS on the pathway forward to ensure implementation guidance both respects Congressional intent under Public Law 119–21 and mitigates harms for state health care systems and the people who must comply with new paperwork burdens under the law.