In the United States and across the globe, every sector of society is working to identify solutions that address challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Vulnerable populations — including individuals with low-incomes, older adults, people of color, and those with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs — are likely to be disproportionately impacted, either directly through illness or indirectly due to pressures on health, community, and economic systems.
To support our partners at the state, health plan, provider, and community levels, the Center for Health Care Strategies has compiled this compendium of resources aimed at lessening the impact of COVID-19 on Medicaid populations, particularly those at the highest risk. This library of key guidance, reference materials, and tools will grow and evolve over time. CHCS welcomes additional resource suggestions.
General Resources for States
Federal Guidance
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Toolkit (CMS)
- COVID-19 FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies (CMS)
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Increased FMAP FAQs (CMS)
- COVID-19 Checklists and Tools to Accelerate Relief for State Medicaid & CHIP Programs (CMS)
- 1135 Waivers (CMS)
- Medicaid and CHIP Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment (CMS)
- COVID-19 1115 Waiver Demonstrations (CMS)
- Civil Rights, HIPAA, and COVID-19 (US DHHS, Office for Civil Rights, added 4/3) Outlines regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion in HHS-funded programs.
- CMS Waivers and COVID-19 Response (CMS, added 4/15)
- Fact Sheet for State and Local Governments: CMS Programs & Payment for Care in Hospital Alternate Care Sites (CMS, added 5/28)
- COVID-19 State and Local Response Tracker (Urban Institute, added 6/15)
Select State Resources
Opportunities for Medicaid
General Resources for Health Care Professionals
Federal Guidance
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Toolkit, see Clinical/Technical and Billing/Coding (CMS)
- COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers (CMS, updated 4/15)
- COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals (CDC)
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Health Care Professionals (CDC)
- Civil Rights, HIPAA, and COVID-19 (US DHHS, Office for Civil Rights, added 4/3) Outlines regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion in HHS-funded programs.
- Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 (CMS, added 4/15)
- Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare (CMS, added 4/28)
Resources
Telehealth
Federal Guidance
Resources
Long-Term Services and Supports
Federal Guidance
- Information Related to COVID-19 for All Medicare Advantage Organizations, Part D Sponsors, and Medicare-Medicaid Plans (CMS)
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 in Home Health Agencies (CMS)
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 by Hospice Agencies (CMS)
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (CMS)
- Information for PACE Organizations Regarding Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 (CMS)
- Civil Rights, HIPAA, and COVID-19 (US DHHS, Office for Civil Rights, added 4/3) Outlines regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion in HHS-funded programs. See example of state response related to non-discrimination for COVID-19-related medical treatment for people with disabilities: California. See also resources under the “Health Equity” section below.
- COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (CMS, added 4/15)
- D-SNPs COVID-19 CY2021 State Medicaid Agency Contract Requirements (CMS, added 4/28)
- Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes (CMS, added 5/28)
Resources
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Agencies (CMS) – See in particular, questions related to flexibilities for home- and community-based services, family caregivers, and home health and nursing facility providers.
- Preparing for COVID-19: Long-Term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes (CDC)
- Coronavirus and COVID-19 Information (Leading Age) – See in particular, provider and setting-specific resources: Adult Day/PACE/Senior Centers; Assisted Living Communities; Home Health; Hospice; Nursing Homes.
- Confronting Disability Discrimination During the Pandemic (Hastings Center, added 4/3)
- ElderCare Locator (Administration for Community Living)
- COVID-19: A Guide for Direct Care Workers (Care Academy, added 4/3)
- COVID-19: Tips for Dementia Caregivers (Alzheimer’s Association, added 4/15)
- Resources to Support Family Caregivers (ARCH National Respite Network, added 4/28)
- How North Carolina’s Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities System Is Responding to COVID-19 (Milbank Memorial Fund, added 5/14)
- COVID-19 State Resource Guide: Leveraging Federal and State Authorities to Ensure Access to Long-Term Services and Supports for High-Risk Individuals (Manatt, added 6/8)
- California’s Use of Federal and State Policy Flexibilities to Ensure Access to Long-Term Services and Supports During the COVID-19 Pandemic (The SCAN Foundation, added 7/24)
Behavioral Health
Federal Guidance
Resources
Social Needs
Federal Guidance
- Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Respond to Coronavirus 2019 (CDC)
- Food and Nutrition Service Response to COVID-19 (US Department of Agriculture, added 4/3)
- Civil Rights, HIPAA, and COVID-19 (US DHHS, Office for Civil Rights, added 4/3) Outlines regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion in HHS-funded programs.
Resources
Health Equity
Federal Guidance
Resources
- Equity Implications of the Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak in the United States (NAACP, added 4/3)
- Health Justice Strategies to Combat COVID-19: Protecting Vulnerable Communities During A Pandemic (Health Affairs, added 4/3)
- Covid-19: The Painful Price of Ignoring Health Inequities (BMJ Opinion, added 4/3)
- Confronting Disability Discrimination During the Pandemic (Hastings Center, added 4/3)
- Applying HHS’ Guidance for States and Health Care Providers on Avoiding Disability-Based Discrimination in Treatment Rationing (Center for Public Representation, added 4/8)
- COVID-19 Medical Communication Access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (National Association for the Deaf, added 4/8)
- COVID-19 Triage and Disability: What NOT To Do (Bioethics.net, added 4/8)
- Communities of Color at Higher Risk for Health and Economic Challenges due to COVID-19 (Kaiser Family Foundation, added 4/15)
- COVID-19 Fact Sheets in 35 Languages (Health Literacy Project, added 4/15)
- COVID-19 Resources from the National Collaborative for Health Equity (added 4/15)
- Governor Whitmer Creates the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities (State of Michigan, added 4/15)
- Communities of Color at Higher Risk for Health and Economic Challenges due to COVID-19 (Kaiser Family Foundation, added 4/15)
- Fair Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Ruderman Family Foundation, added 4/20)
- Awareness of Social Needs Can Help Address Health Inequity during COVID-19 (American Hospital Association, added 5/28)
- Health Equity Principles for State and Local Leaders in Responding to, Reopening, and Recovering from COVID-19 (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, added 7/24)
Children and Youth
Federal Guidance for CHIP and Related Analysis
Supporting Children and Families
Addressing Social Service Needs
