Center for Children and Families

Georgetown

Home / State Resource Center / Strategy Center / Maintaining Coverage for Children / Legislative Authority

Maintaining Coverage for Children: Retention Strategies


Legislative Authority

Since the inceptions of Medicaid (in 1965) and CHIP (in 1997), states have had the flexibility to adopt administrative and outreach practices that can improve retention rates. Specific administrative strategies allowed, and, in some instances, required, under Medicaid and CHIP include: guaranteeing a full year of coverage (12-month continuous eligibility), simplified renewal procedures (such as no renewal interview), and coordinating coverage between Medicaid and CHIP. 1

When conducting Medicaid renewals, federal law also specifically requires states to base the review "to the maximum extent possible" on information already known to the Medicaid agency. This means that a state should use information it has collected from other programs, such as food stamps, to assess ongoing Medicaid eligibility to ensure families are not required to submit information already available to a state. 2

The implementation of CHIP, and the consequent interest in improving child health coverage rates, led to an increase in states efforts to put some of these practices into play. For example, a decade ago, most states required families to renew Medicaid more than once a year, sometimes as often as every few months. As of January 2009, 44 states allow renewal annually, and 18 states guarantee a full year of coverage regardless of changes in family circumstances. (See Facts and Statistics.)

Go To Next Section:

Strategies

Footnotes


1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "Continuing the Progress: Enrolling and Retaining Families and Children in Health Care Coverage," (August 2001). Back

2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Letter from Health Care Financing Administration to State Medicaid Directors, (April 7, 2000). Back


Table of Contents

Summary

Background

Legislative Authority

Strategies

Resources


Download Brief (PDF)




Copyright © 2008-09 Georgetown University Center for Children and Families