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Section 1115 demonstration projects also provide an opportunity for states to test policies that ensure the fiscal sustainability of the Medicaid program, better “enabling each [s]tate, as far as practicable under the conditions in such [s]tate” to furnish medical assistance, Act § 1901, while making it more practicable for states to furnish medical assistance to a broader range of persons in need. For instance, measures designed to improve health and wellness may reduce the volume of services consumed, as healthier, more engaged beneficiaries tend to consume fewer medical services and are generally less costly to cover. Further, measures that have the effect of helping individuals secure employer-sponsored or other commercial coverage or otherwise transition from Medicaid eligibility may decrease the number of individuals who need financial assistance, including medical assistance, from the state. Such measures may enable states to stretch their resources further and enhance their ability to provide medical assistance to a broader range of persons in need, including by expanding the services and populations they cover.1 By the same token, such measures may also preserve states’ ability to continue to provide the optional services and coverage they already have in place.

Our demonstration authority under section 1115 of the Act allows us to offer states more flexibility to experiment with different ways of improving health outcomes and strengthening the financial independence of beneficiaries. Demonstration projects that seek to improve beneficiary health and financial independence improve the well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries and, at the same time, allow states to maintain the long-term fiscal sustainability of their Medicaid programs and to provide more medical services to more Medicaid beneficiaries. Accordingly, such demonstration projects advance the objectives of the Medicaid program.

Determination that the demonstration project is likely to assist in promoting Medicaid’s objectives

Demonstration projects under section 1115 of the Act offer a way to give states more freedom to test and evaluate innovative solutions to improve quality, accessibility, and health outcomes in a budget-neutral manner, provided that, in the judgment of the Secretary, the demonstration is likely to assist with promoting the objectives of Medicaid. This extension of the Plan First demonstration improves access to family planning services and family planning related services for beneficiaries who otherwise would not have access to these services. Therefore, the

1 States have considerable flexibility in the design of their Medicaid programs, within federal guidelines. Certain benefits are mandatory under federal law, but many benefits may be provided at state option, such as prescription drug benefits, vision benefits, and dental benefits. Similarly, states have considerable latitude to determine whom their Medicaid programs will cover. Certain eligibility groups must be covered under a state’s program, but many states opt to cover additional eligibility groups that are optional under the Medicaid statute. The optional groups include a new, non-elderly adult population (ACA expansion population) that was added to the Act at section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Coverage of the ACA expansion population became optional as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in NFIB v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. 519 (2012). Accordingly, several months after the NFIB decision was issued, CMS informed the states that they “have flexibility to start or stop the expansion.” CMS, Frequently Asked Questions on Exchanges, Market Reforms, and Medicaid at 11 (Dec. 10, 2012). In addition to expanding Medicaid coverage by covering optional eligibility groups and benefits beyond what the Medicaid statute requires, many states also choose to cover benefits beyond what is authorized by statute by using expenditure authority under section 1115(a)(2) of the Act. For example, recently, many states have been relying on this authority to expand the scope of services they offer to address SUD beyond what the statute explicitly authorizes.