Medicaid QI Allotments Released; Program Extension Needed

Under the “qualifying individual” (QI) program, states receive 100% federal Medicaid reimbursement for paying Medicare Part B premiums for certain categories of elderly or disabled individuals up to an annual allotment. On July 26, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published in the Federal Register final state allotments for fiscal year (FY) 2012 and preliminary allotments for FY 2013. This program received $730 million in FY 2012 and $765 million in FY 2013. It has been authorized and funded through a series of short-term extensions, with the latest one set to expire on December 31, 2013.