Medicaid Glossary
By: Mary Fitzpatrick, Legislative Analyst IIFebruary 6, 2017 | 2017-R-0053

IssueThis report provides a glossary of acronyms associated with Connecticut’s Medicaid program. The
table includes their terms and definitions. It also includes links to relevant information.
Table 1: Medicaid Glossary
Term orAcronym
ABI
ASO

BIP

CHCPE

CHN-CTCMS
CSPADefinition or Explanation
Acquired brain injury: The state has two Medicaid waivers serving individuals with acquired
brain injuries (ABI I and ABI II)
Administrative Service Organizations: an entity that performs administrative services forConnecticut’s Medicaid program. Among other things, the law authorizes the Department ofSocial Services (DSS) to contract with ASOs to coordinate care, provide customer service,and credential providers.
Balancing Incentive Program: From October 2011 to September 2015, this programprovided enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds for states to increase access to noninstitutional long term services and supports.
Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders: provides a variety of community-based
services to frail seniors and individuals under 65 with neurological diseases to avoid
unnecessary or premature institutionalization. Parts of CHCPE are Medicaid-funded (boththrough a waiver and the Medicaid state plan), while other parts are funded with state funds
only.
Community Health Network of Connecticut: the medical ASO for Connecticut’s Medicaid
programCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services: the federal agency that administers Medicaid,Medicare, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Community spouse protected amount: If a spouse is living in a nursing home, federal
Medicaid law allows the spouse living in the community to keep some of the couple’s assets
to ensure that he or she does not become impoverishedwww.cga.ct.gov/olr
OLRequest@cga.ct.gov

Connecticut General Assembly
Office of Legislative Research
Stephanie A. D’Ambrose, Director

Relevant Links(if applicable)
CGS § 17b-260a
CGS § 17b-261m

CGS § 17b-342

CGS § 17b-261m
CMS webpage
42 USC § 1396r5(f)(2)(860) 240-8400
Room 5300
Legislative Office Building

DSS
FMAP

HCBS

LTSS

MAGI
MAPOC

MFP

MMNA

NCQA
NEMT
PCMH

PNA

SPA

Department of Social Services: Connecticut’s state Medicaid agency
Federal Medical Assistance Percentages: the percentage rates used to determine theportion of a state’s Medicaid spending that will be paid for with federal funds. The
determination is generally based on the state’s average per-capita income relative to thenational average.
Home and Community Based Services: services delivered to a Medicaid recipient at homeor in the community that enable the recipient to avoid institutionalization. Some HCBS
services may be available through the Medicaid state plan and states may also establish
Medicaid waiver programs, known as 1915 (c) waivers, to provide these services to certain
populations.
Long term services and supports include services that provide Medicaid recipients withassistance with daily living activities. LTSS include, but are not limited to, nursing services,personal care services, transportation, and supported employment, as well as assistanceprovided by a family caregiver.
Modified adjusted gross income: income eligibility rules used for certain Medicaid coveragegroups that are standardized across all states.
Medical Assistance Program Oversight Council: The law charges this council with
monitoring and advising DSS on various aspects of the Medicaid program. MAPOC includes
legislators, consumers, advocates, health care providers, ASO representatives, and stateagency personnel. It generally meets monthly and also has subcommittees that meetseparately.
Money Follows the Person: a demonstration project funded through a federal grant awarded
to DSS in 2007. The federal MFP program permits states to move people out of nursing
homes or other institutional settings into less-restrictive, community-based settings.
Minimum monthly needs allowance: a portion of an institutionalized individual’s income
reserved for his or her spouse living in the community (i.e., not applied toward the cost of theinstitutionalized individual’s care).
National Committee for Quality Assurance: a nonprofit organization that provides
accreditation for person centered medical homes (see below).
Non Emergency Medical Transportation: a benefit states are required to make available toenable Medicaid recipients to travel to and from covered medical services
Person Centered Medical Homes: an approach to primary care delivery in which primarycare providers develop long-term partnerships with their patients and, among other things,
coordinate their care.
Personal needs allowance: Medicaid recipients who receive institutional care must apply aportion of their monthly income toward their care costs, but may keep a portion (the PNA) topay for incidentals.
State Plan Amendment: an amendment to the Medicaid state plan, which is an agreement
between a state and the federal government describing how that state administers its
Medicaid program.

CGS § 17b-2
42 USC §1396d(b)42 USC §1396n(c)42 CFR 435.603
CGS § 17b-28
MAPOC website

42 USC § 1396r5(d)(3)
NCQA website

CGS § 17b-272

CMS webpage on
State PlanAmendments;
DSS page on
SPAs

MF:cym2017-R-0053February 6, 2017

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