Issue Briefs | Feb 12, 2012

Strategies for Building Seamless Health Systems for Low-Income Populations

The George Washington University – Sara Rosenbaum; Center for Health Care Strategies – Stephen Somers and Shannon McMahon

The Affordable Care Act offers numerous opportunities to stabilize coverage and care for beneficiaries as their incomes fluctuate, and states can reduce the impact of churn between coverage programs with design and purchasing strategies that promote seamlessness. This brief explores the challenges for states in creating seamless health coverage for low-income populations, while providing states with a roadmap as they consider building seamless health systems. Key issues for states to consider include managing subsidy fluctuations through carefully designed eligibility and enrollment strategies and ensuring stable coverage and care by creating seamlessness across benefits, providers, and health plans.


Expert Perspectives

September 26, 2023

CMS Finalizes Medicaid Rule to Streamline Enrollment into Medicare Savings Programs

This expert perspective provides a high-level overview of key provisions included in the “Streamlining Medicaid; Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Determination and Enrollment” final rule that will facilitate enrollment and retention of Medicare Savings Program (MSP) coverage. MSPs are state-run programs that help low-income Medicare enrollees pay their Medicare premiums and/or cost-sharing. While the final rule’s effective date is November 17, 2023, CMS delayed compliance dates for most provisions until April 1, 2026, to reflect states’ competing priorities in light of the “unwinding” of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement.

Government Shutdown Implications for Health Programs and Personnel

As congressional negotiations continue to stall on fiscal year 2024 appropriations, federal agencies are deep into contingency planning for a potential government shutdown beginning October 1. Decisions are still being made about which federal activities and personnel are considered essential. This expert perspective describes the plans currently available from the Department of Health and Human Services and the implications for health programs and personnel.