For every dollar a state’s Medicare program spends on a project, there's the potential of additional project support and funding using enhanced Federal funding. The Federal government can fund states up to 90 cents for every dollar they spend to support an initiative.
Receiving Federal funding dollars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) HITECH program is often a necessity for states to fully fund a project. Although Federal regulation 45 CFR 95.610 is well defined, its implementation varies from state to state and includes collation of data and collaboration among many from the states as well as CMS state officers.
CMS has selected Fearless to work on the Electronic Advanced Planning Document (eAPD) to better enable states to receive funds from Medicaid to support state-run Medicaid software development projects. This project will involve a Fearless team delivering an MVP product, leveraging the strong foundation originally laid by 18 F.
Through Fearless’ digitization of this process, federal money will potentially be awarded faster, and applications will be more consistent and accurate as eAPDs will “do the math” automatically. With an electronic document, numbers and information can be checked and reviewed more efficiently.
“What we’re building is a mechanism to help states more effectively obtain funding for Medicaid programs and that will support the residents of the states,” said Fearless Product Manager Nichole Weems. “Right now it may take up to 60 days for CMS to review and approve APD applications; and through the eAPD, approved funding will get to states much quicker.”
With millions of dollars of funding at stake for each state, the application process is very labor-intensive for state Medicare agencies. Required information includes summarizing scope of the project, assessing risks, and forecasting budgetary needs for multiple-year projections.
States are currently submitting documents in multiple formats of varying lengths, leading to time-consuming work for CMS state officers to review, research, and process the information as well as respond to inquiries regarding current and future Medicaid projects.
“Right now states are sending in a PDF file which is not an automated process. With the eAPD, every submission will be the same format, contain pertinent content and accurate budget calculations,” Weems said. “This way the state employees will have a clearer understanding of what CMS needs in an effective APD submission. When CMS receives a more well-crafted submission which meets regulation, they can award funding sooner.”
This announcement was published independently of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This release does not constitute or imply an endorsement by CMS or the United States Government of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of CMS or the United States Government.