CMS Seeks Comments on Medicaid Paperwork Drudgery
Published Date: 9/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your thoughts on their plan to keep collecting simple, low-burden info about Medicaid and CHIP programs. This helps them improve how they manage state plans, waivers, and reports without causing extra hassle. If you have ideas or concerns, speak up by October 9, 2026—your input can shape smoother healthcare paperwork!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
CHIP plan adds non‑payment assurance
CMS revised the CHIP State Plan Application template (Form CMS-10398 #34, OMB 0938-1148) to add an assurance that the State Medicaid agency does not make payment under the CHIP plan for sex-rejecting procedures for children under the age of 19. This revision is part of the generic information collection; CMS estimates 41 respondents, 112 annual responses, and 448 total annual hours for this template.
Medicaid SPA collects FFP non‑claim assurance for minors
CMS created a new Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) template (Form CMS-10398 #97, OMB 0938-1148) tied to the August 13, 2026 final rule (CMS-2451-F) to collect an assurance that the Medicaid agency does not claim Federal financial participation (FFP) under the plan for sex-rejecting procedures for children under the age of 18. CMS estimates 56 respondents, 56 annual responses, and 168 total annual hours for this template.
Medicaid prior‑authorization timeframes required
CMS issued a new Medicaid SPA template (Form CMS-10398 #102, OMB 0938-1148) to simplify state submissions that add assurances required by the January 17, 2024 Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule (CMS-0057-F). That rule introduced decision timeframes for prior authorization requests and requirements for how State Medicaid agencies must notify providers of those decisions; CMS estimates 56 respondents, 56 annual responses, and 280 total annual hours for this template.
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