Updates

Aug 5, 2022 

Leveraging Section 1902(e)(14) Waiver Authority Amid Unwinding

The unwinding related section 1902(e)(14) strategies newly available to Medicaid and CHIP agencies can provide significant relief to states facing pending eligibility and enrollment actions and processing delays, workforce and systems limitations, and other operational challenges. Ensuring eligible individuals do not lose coverage for procedural or administrative reasons and supporting those who are ineligible for Medicaid/CHIP transition to Marketplace coverage will be paramount for all states as they begin to resume normal operations when the federal public health emergency (PHE) ends. This expert perspective outlines the time-limited targeted enrollment flexibilities that CMS has availed to states through section 1902(e)(14) waiver authority and discusses considerations beyond the strategies described in federal guidance and supplemental resources. This expert perspective has been updated as of August 5, 2022 to include reference to additional guidance released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Aug 3, 2022 

State Strategies for Sequencing Enrollee Communications When Medicaid Continuous Coverage Ends

This expert perspective focuses on strengthening communications to enrollees during the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement to ensure that those who are eligible maintain their coverage, and those who are ineligible are transitioned to a marketplace plan or other insurance. The intention is to help states develop a timeline within their communications plans to coordinate and sequence outreach to these consumer groups. Critical in this effort to reduce churn will be effective coordination with stakeholders. This expert perspective outlines outreach strategies and tactics state Medicaid agencies and state-based marketplaces can implement to effectively inform enrollees what is happening and what actions they may need to take to stay insured. This expert perspective has been updated to reflect the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, an omnibus funding package that separates the Medicaid continuous coverage provision from the COVID-19 public health emergency that provides a fixed end date for the Medicaid continuous coverage guarantee of March 31, 2023.

Jul 20, 2022 

Ensuring Continuity of Care for Individuals Transitioning from Medicaid to Marketplace: Post-PHE Considerations for States

This expert perspective, the second in a series about maintaining continuity of coverage and care during the public health emergency unwinding, identifies strategies for state-based Marketplaces (SBMs), in partnership with Medicaid agencies, departments of insurance, consumer assisters, and participating insurers, to help maintain continuity of care. The first expert perspective noted strategies that state Medicaid agencies can use to mitigate disruptions to coverage and care. A third expert perspective will discuss strategies for the SBMs and their partners to help ensure continuity of coverage.