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Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions Recommended Resource Download Now: Tips to Reduce Stress and Combat Burnout Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can hurt your physical and mental health. Included in this tip sheet are several, evidence-based relaxation techniques that you can use to help manage stress and improve your overall well-being, whether you are at home or in the office. Download Now The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk and Acentra™ Health is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" webpage referenced from this server. Acentra Health. All rights reserved.

Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions Stress and burnout are the most common struggles for employees and a driving force of the current U.S. workplace mental health crisis. In recent years, burnout has emerged as one of the primary concerns among employees across various industries. Burnout is a pressing concern for federal government agencies, with studies indicating high rates of burnout among employees. According to a comprehensive report by Gallup: 1 in 4 employees feel burned out “very often” or “always.” Unfair treatment, unmanageable workloads, unclear communication from managers, lack of manager support, and unreasonable time pressure were cited as contributing to burnout. The consequences of burnout include: Lower engagement among managers and employees. Lower productivity. Increase in unplanned absences. Missed deadlines, delays, and negativity. Addressing Burnout in the Public Sector The good news is that effective interventions can be adopted to prevent and alleviate burnout. Employers can take the following steps: Demonstrate that the organization supports employee well-being Acentra Health partners with our clients to provide counselors in the workplace for convenient onsite support to help meet the needs of their employees. Employees and managers can receive quick and effective care. Support work-life balance through flexible scheduling and telework options. Engage with your people Keeping staff engaged typically starts with the manager. In fact, managers who regularly meet with their staff one-on-one for productive conversations provide their team with meaningful engagement in the form of recognition, opportunities, clarified expectations, and a forum for feedback. Acentra Health offers comprehensive solutions, including: Equipping managers with the tools they need to successfully engage their employees. Enhancing communication and transparency between managers and employees. Destigmatizing mental h

Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions Recommended Resource Download Now: Self-Service Quiz To help employees assess their risk of burnout, we've developed a simple eight question quiz that they can use to assess their well-being, seek appropriate support, and ultimately contribute to a healthier and more productive work environment. If your organization is looking for additional ways to foster a supportive environment, you may download and share the Mental Health Self-Reflection Quiz with your workplace. The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk and Acentra™ Health is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" webpage referenced from this server. Acentra Health. All rights reserved.

Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions What We Know About the Latest Proposed Changes In the past two years momentum behind the need to update the Prior Authorization (PA) process has been growing at both the federal and state levels. From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposing new rules to the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) raising concerns about access to care through a fair and equitable process for Medicaid beneficiaries, it's clear that changes to the PA process will be required for Medicaid prior authorizations in the foreseeable future. As planning begins for the implementation of the proposed CMS rules in January 2026, our Acentra Health experts are considering updates to four key areas: The latest CMS proposed rule is slated to go into effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to Medicaid managed care plans, the majority of Medicaid fee-for-service plans , Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care and fee-for-service arrangements, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, and Qualified Health Plans (QHP) on the federally facilitated health insurance marketplace (i.e., healthcare.gov). The new ruling focuses on improving automation of the PA process , increasing access to data , and enhancing the beneficiary and provider experiences. States may add additional requirements on top of the new CMS rules. In addition, the HHS OIG’s July 2023 report detailed variations in the Medicaid MCO prior authorization process. A significant number of states surveyed in OIG’s review reported they had limited oversight of the prior authorization process including initial decisions, appeals, and reconsiderations. The OIG is urging CMS to provide additional guidance to benefit states and to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries have equitable and timely access to all appropriate care. Leveraging Key Focus Areas for a Smoother Transition With changes inevitably on the horizon for Medicaid Prior Autho

Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions Insights from the first four months of redetermination are showing impacts to the Medicaid population. According to the latest Medicaid renewal data captured in the KFF Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, over 3.7 million Americans across 41 states have lost their coverage.1 The challenges expected from the redetermination process around completion of paperwork are yielding almost 3 out of 4 individuals reportedly dropped due to incomplete paperwork or missing required documentation. [1] Data as of August 1, 2023 As U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in his June 12th letter to U.S. Governors, “as full Medicaid renewals begin, it is critically important to ensure that individuals do not lose coverage due solely to administrative processes.” If beneficiaries submit incomplete redetermination paperwork, states are required to contact the beneficiary and work through information fields that are missing. This may cause multiple rounds of submissions in order to complete the redetermination process paperwork. For beneficiaries that are non-responsive, states will have to manage multiple rounds of outreach to the individual. This overall increase in additional support for enrollment departments comes at a time when many are experiencing staffing shortages and workload capacity issues. What challenges do beneficiaries face when completing their paperwork? This is the most significant question that states need to consider when determining the best way to support beneficiaries and lower the administrative burden. Beneficiaries who do not complete their redetermination paperwork typically experience one of these challenges: They are lacking awareness of the process and are not responding to outreach notices due to not opening mail. They are lacking awareness of the process and are not receiving outreach notices due to having incorrect

Jun 4, 2026 – By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions April 1st is upon us and states are starting the redeterminations process for Medicaid, which has been referred to as one of the “biggest administrative burdens” states have faced to date from the pandemic. From now through the end of the year, the impacts to Medicaid beneficiaries as well as internal state operations, providers, and stakeholders will come to the forefront. The early months will bring to light challenges and broader impacts than perhaps the most thoughtful and deliberate state plans could have anticipated. The good news for states, however, is that they do not have to face these challenges alone. How can partnership play a role in resolving redeterminations? States are looking to their long-term partners who currently have roles in their day-to-day Medicaid operations. These partners know the state policies and practices, have daily communications with beneficiaries, providers, and stakeholders, and are viewed as an extension of the state’s team in planning and problem-solving communication challenges, as well as other emerging challenges. Partners perform various functions for states including claims processing and enrollment, as well as a variety of clinical operations ranging from utilization management, case management, and care coordination, to clinical assessments for waiver programs, provider network credentialing and enrollment, and numerous other functions. Many partners work with numerous states and some have a national footprint, placing them in a unique position to bring ideas to the discussion, share experiences from other states, and help states plan their paths forward. Opportunities to Overcome Challenges with Awareness-Building Efforts Raising beneficiary awareness is the first of many challenges to overcome. For example, in December 2022, nearly two-thirds (64.3 percent) of adults enrolled in Medicaid or with an enrolled spouse, partner, or ch