CMS streamlines Medicare Savings Program enrollment

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 18 finalized select provisions in its proposed rule to streamline Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment. The finalized provisions streamline enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs, which are run by state Medicaid agencies and cover Medicare premiums and often cost-sharing for over 10 million low-income older adults and people with disabilities. CMS estimates about half of eligible people are enrolled in MSPs, in part due to cumbersome application and verification processes. It expects the rule to save enrollees nearly 19 million hours in paperwork and states over 2 million hours in administrative burden annually. CMS said it expects to finalize the other proposed provisions at a later date. In comments submitted on the proposed rule last year, AHA voiced support for proposals in the rule that would facilitate and promote enrollment and eliminate coverage disruptions.