ST PAUL, MINN – Officials with the Minnesota Department of Human Services provided an update on the department Thursday afternoon.
Current federal funding concerns
Minnesota Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner John Connolly said there’s concern for federal funding in the department.
“$3.1 billion in Medicaid funding for Minnesota is at risk until DHS is able to address the concerns of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),” he said.
He says federal litigation is underway to help preserve the funds.
“The U.S. District Court denied the state’s request for a temporary restraining order to halt the deferral of $259 million in Medicaid reimbursements for claims,” Connolly said.
CMS has said it could take months to resolve the issues.
Future funding concerns
Connolly said future funding from the federal government may be in jeopardy.
“Another $2 billion in future Medicaid funding is also at risk until we implement the state’s corrective action plan to address waste, fraud and abuse, and until CMS feels that that plan has been fully implemented,” he said.
Connolly says progress has been made on that front, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approving their correction plan last month.
The correction plan is being implemented currently.
