| Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) that provides states and territories with information on changes to the Medicaid benefit package implemented by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). The CAA added a new mandatory benefit for coverage of routine patient costs for services furnished in connection with participation by Medicaid beneficiaries in qualifying clinical trials, on or after January 1, 2022. The guidance provides important information to states about these legislative changes, including how to incorporate them into the Medicaid State Plan. Learn more here:https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd21005.pdf | 