Issue Briefs | Apr 12, 2013

States’ Medicaid ACA Checklist for 2014

National Academy of State Health Policy

The National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP) compiled this checklist to highlight the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid requirements that will take effect in the next two years, nearly all of which will apply to states regardless of whether the state chooses to expand Medicaid eligibility.  The checklist also highlights a few important optional provisions that states may want to consider as they plan for modernizing their Medicaid programs and complying with federal requirements. The checklist is divided into five domains of work for states’ Medicaid programs: eligibility and enrollment; operations; financing; benefits; and consumer assistance.  Following a description of each requirement is a list of resources that can be useful to states working on the issue. Finally, this checklist provides links to relevant resources that offer additional tools and analyses to support state implementation efforts, and is accompanied by a companion Resource List, which provides full citations to each resource noted in the individual resources sections below.


Expert Perspectives

September 6, 2024

Current Considerations for State Reinsurance Programs

Reinsurance is a long-standing tool for stabilizing health insurance markets and reducing premiums, and has played an important role in the success of the Affordable Care Act’s individual market as part of section 1332 state innovation waivers. Reinsurance increases affordability for consumers ineligible for the premium tax credit (PTC). However, the effects on PTC recipients are smaller, mixed, and have received little attention. This expert perspective summarizes recent research which raises questions about the impact of reinsurance programs on PTC recipients, and highlights related considerations for state policymakers.

CMS Issues Guidance on Renewal Timeliness Post-Unwinding

On August 29, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a CMCS Informational Bulletin (CIB) and accompanying slide deck to support states facing renewal backlogs. With this guidance, CMS is providing states additional time—until December 31, 2025—to complete Medicaid and CHIP eligibility renewals, address persistent backlogs in processing redeterminations, and achieve compliance with federal renewal timeliness requirements. This expert perspective provides an overview of the CIB.