HHS urges governors to use all Medicaid redetermination flexibilities

Jun 13, 2023 - 03:01 PM
Child patient in hospital bed with doctor playing

In a letter to governors, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra encouraged states to use all available options to streamline Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program redeterminations and prevent eligible enrollees from losing coverage due to procedural issues. HHS to date has approved 188 waivers to help states and territories renew Medicaid coverage for eligible enrollees since the COVID-19 pandemic’s continuous enrollment requirement ended March 31. 
 
“In addition to these flexibilities, I encourage all states to partner with stakeholders on the ground to engage more directly with Medicaid and CHIP families,” Becerra wrote. “A recent survey of Medicaid enrollees found that two-thirds of people were not sure if their state was returning to regular Medicaid operations. We must all do much more to ensure that everyone with Medicaid or CHIP coverage knows that they must check their mailbox and/or email for a renewal form and return it immediately to maintain their coverage.” 
 
For more information, see the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ All Hands on Deck fact sheet and call to action.
 
Based on data from 20 states, over 1 million Medicaid beneficiaries have been disenrolled, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports, with the disenrollment rate ranging from 12% in Nebraska to 73% in Idaho.

Related News Articles

Headline
CMS releases 2 qualifying payment amount audits
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 20 published two qualifying payment amount audits under the No Surprises Act. The audits were of…
Headline
Use resources from AHA’s social media toolkit to promote 2027 open enrollment
The AHA has released a social media toolkit with sample posts and graphics encouraging people to sign up for 2027 health coverage via the Health Insurance…
Headline
Agencies finalize updates to insurer transparency requirements
Multiple changes to transparency in coverage requirements for insurers were finalized Oct. 5 by the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human…
Headline
HHS clarifies when state Medicaid agencies can use patient SUD records to verify exemption from community engagement requirements
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights released new guidance on statutory and regulatory requirements under 42 CFR Part 2, which…
Headline
CMS launches outcomes-driven quality measurement initiative for states 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 25 announced the launch of a new initiative measuring quality in Medicaid and the Children’s Health…
Headline
CMS to remove Marketplace coverage for more than 760,000 as part of anti-fraud efforts
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will cancel approximately 315,000 enrollments impacting more than 760,000 individuals as part of its anti-…