State-Based Marketplaces Eye Health Equity, Expanding Enrollment Under New Federal Grants

A new post on the CHIRblog, published by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, examines how State-Based Marketplaces (SBMs) are planning to spend the $20 million in grant funding announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last month. The federal funding, allocated under the ARP, will allow SBMs to modernize their technology platforms, outreach programs, and other systems and operations to ensure compliance with federal requirements, including the ARP’s temporary subsidy expansion. The blog post highlights how, after achieving substantial enrollment through their initiatives to connect consumers to marketplace plans, the new grant funding will allow SBMs to build on their progress. As states prepare for the end of the PHE and address the ongoing hardships brought by the pandemic, investing in more equitable outreach and consumer assistance, and improved eligibility and enrollment systems will ensure that SBMs can continue to provide access to affordable, quality coverage.