CMS has published a notice giving states more time to submit state access monitoring review plans under a November 2015 rule intended to assure access to covered Medicaid services. By way of background, the final rule required states to develop and submit to CMS an access monitoring review plan for the following service categories: primary care services (including those provided by a physician, federally qualified health center, clinic or dental care); physician specialist services (e.g., cardiology, urology, radiology); behavioral health services (including mental health and substance use disorder); pre- and post-natal obstetric services (including labor and delivery); and home health services. While the final rule called for the plans to be submitted to CMS by July 1, 2016, CMS is extending that deadline until October 1, 2016 (with conforming changes to the deadline for submission in subsequent review periods). CMS noted that states have raised significant concerns about meeting the July 1 date, and argued that "additional time will allow them to develop more robust and proficient review plans, and leave them better prepared to analyze and monitor compliance with" the statute.

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