Medicaid

New York

via New York State of Health:

June 30, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul today encouraged eligible New Yorkers to renew their health insurance coverage as insurance renewal deadlines rapidly approach. The Governor also issued a public service announcement to get the message out to New Yorkers.

Connecticut

via Access Health CT:

These free, in-person events will take place in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Middletown and Torrington

HARTFORD, Conn. (June 27, 2023) — Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced it will host four free, in-person enrollment fairs in July and August to help HUSKY Health enrollees who have been affected by recent legislation. The events will take place in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Middletown and Torrington. HUSKY Health is Connecticut’s Medicaid program.

Medicaid Unwinding is a term the federal government is using to describe the process of resuming reviewing households for Medicaid eligibility after a three-year hiatus during the Public Health Emergency. The eligibility redetermination process resumed April 1.

Connecticut residents that remain eligible for HUSKY Health will likely be automatically reenrolled; those that need to take action will receive mail with instructions.

During this springs Congressional kabuki theater regarding raising the federal debt ceiling, one of the biggest points of contention was House Republicans insistence on tying work requirements (w/stringent reporting) to Medicaid eligibility.

"Work requirements" is as old a saw for Republican politicians as "selling insurance across state lines," and it's just as ineffective and counterproductive (as well as simply being cruel). This debate has been held numerous times before, and the upside of such requirements has been debunked repeatedly, but here he go again:

As Joan McCarter of Daily Kos put it way back in 2015:

Medicaid Unwinding

A month ago I posted a post which included a very incomplete, rudimentary look at just how many Americans had lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage due to the ongoing Medicaid Unwinding process playing out nationally, based on initial data reported by Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Center for Children & Families at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute:

...data is only available for 8 states so far; for another, the data from those states is a mish-mash, clearly broken out in some but only partial in others, and some only include percentages instead of hard numbers.

Even so, you can already see that at least 258,000 people have lost Medicaid coverage due to paperwork/clerical issues in just Arkansas and Florida alone...in just the first two months of the unwinding process.

New York

via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to strengthen maternal health, an estimated 509,000 Americans annually are now eligible for essential care for a full year after pregnancy.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced New York’s extension of comprehensive coverage after pregnancy through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for postpartum individuals for a full 12 months.

via the Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services website:

Erie, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennie® Director of External Affairs Chachi Angelo joined representatives from Community Health Net today to highlight how the Shapiro Administration, Pennie, and local health centers are collaborating to support Pennsylvanians through federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP renewal requirements so they can protect their health and stay covered.  

“Everyone deserves the dignity and peace of mind of having access to affordable, high-quality, local health care and knowing they can go to the doctor when they need it. DHS’ goal throughout the renewal process is to make sure that all Pennsylvanians stay covered,” said Acting Secretary Arkoosh. “I urge all Pennsylvanians who get their health coverage through the state Medicaid program to be on the lookout for communications from DHS about your renewal, and to make sure you complete it on time when it’s your turn to renew.”  

via Connect for Health Colorado:

Colorado’s Marketplace Offers Free Enrollment Help and Low-Cost Health Plans

DENVER— For the first time in more than three years, Coloradans who are no longer eligible for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) will start to lose their coverage.

Why Coloradans Might Lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program)

This change was the result of federal legislation passed in winter of 2022: the Omnibus bill, otherwise known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It included a provision to end the requirement for states to keep individuals covered by Medicaid during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. 

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) estimates that more than 325,000 current members will no longer be eligible for Health First Colorado coverage following their annual eligibility review. These eligibility reviews will be done in the anniversary month of when the person enrolled.

via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

In February 2023, 93,373,794 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

  • 86,174,094 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in January 2023, an increase of 291,095 individuals from January 2023.
  • 7,199,700 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in February 2023, an increase of 111,838 individuals from January 2023.
  • Since February 2020, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has increased by 22,723,554 individuals (32.2%).
    • Medicaid enrollment has increased by 22,369,004 individuals (35.1%).
    • CHIP enrollment has increased by 354,550 individuals (5.2%).

The Medicaid enrollment increases are likely driven by COVID-19 and the continuous enrollment condition in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

A reminder via Dakota News Now:

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Although Medicaid expansion in the state of South Dakota doesn’t take effect for another month, the window to apply opened on Thursday. A kickoff event was held for advocates and patients to review the benefits for those who qualify.

“Today has been long overdue. No one should have to choose between bankrupting their family and getting the health coverage they need,” said Dr. Dan Johnson from the American Cancer Society.

After the hard work of gathering petition signatures and talking to voters, Medicaid expansion advocates are celebrating enrollment opening for South Dakota residents.

...Over 50,000 people will be eligible for Medicaid, as voters approved Constitutional Amendment D last November. Erik Nelson, an advocate with AARP, has had positive conversations with the state handling the logistics of enrollment.

...Even if applicants don’t have their application completed by the July 1 effective date, a plan is in place.

 

via Covered California:

Covered California Launches Statewide Push to Help Californians Stay Covered if They Lose Their Medi-Cal Eligibility

Covered California lanza una campaña estatal para ayudar a los californianos a permanecer cubiertos si pierden su elegibilidad para Medi-Cal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California launched a virtual media tour on Wednesday to spread the word about the upcoming Medi-Cal to Covered California Enrollment Program and how it will help keep Californians covered. 

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