Unwinding Continuous Coverage

The ninth webinar in our unwinding series with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities focused on three sources of data to monitor the impact as states begin to process disenrollments once the Medicaid continuous coverage provision is lifted. We discussed 1) the data that states have been required to report as part of the…

HHS Secretary Becerra has declared that the COVID-19 public health emergency is extended for another 90 days through January 11, 2023. This means that February 1, 2023, is the earliest that the Medicaid continuous coverage protection would be lifted and states could begin to disenroll people after completing a full renewal and review of ongoing…

This week on Unwinding Wednesday, we are digging into the communications materials and toolkits found on our 50-state Unwinding Tracker – arguably one of the most critical elements of the tracker for ensuring individuals with Medicaid coverage are adequately prepared for the unwinding. The development of comprehensive communications materials by state Medicaid agencies is vital…

In last month’s Unwinding Webinar Part 9, we covered the performance indicator and supplemental unwinding data that will be helpful in monitoring the impact of unwinding the Medicaid continuous coverage protection at the end of the public health emergency (PHE). I often talk about call center statistics being the canary in the coal mine. But…

Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs are a popular way to provide information based on the types of questions people most frequently ask. But like all types of communications, how well FAQs convey information depends on the audience and how easy the content is to understand. In our 50-State Unwinding Tracker, we have found 28 states…

This week in our Unwinding Wednesday blog series, we unpack an element of our 50-state Unwinding Tracker that has been a top issue since discussions about the end of the continuous enrollment protection began: state unwinding plans.  In the initial December 2020 guidance, CMS advised states to develop and document a comprehensive plan for eligibility…

Last week, we launched our new 50-State Unwinding Tracker, which reflects whether states have posted key information or documents for preparation of the end of the public health emergency and the lifting of the Medicaid continuous coverage protection. In the coming weeks, we plan to lift up additional information that can be gleaned from the…

Today, CCF posted new resources relating to the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous coverage protection after the public health emergency (PHE) ends. We’re also kicking off our “Unwinding Wednesday” blog series, which will focus on planning, implementation, and monitoring of the unwinding. Tips and Best Practices Updated In August 2021, we released our Unwinding Tips…

The Office of the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released new projections of the number of people likely to lose Medicaid after the COVID-related continuous coverage protection is lifted at the end of the public health emergency (PHE). Similar to other analyses, ASPE estimates that about 15 million people, including 5.3 million…

As planning for the eventual unwinding of the COVID-19 related Medicaid continuous coverage protection continues, CMS has made significant efforts to provide additional tools and flexibilities to smooth the process for states and promote continuity of coverage. One such effort is allowing states to request time-limited waivers, authorized under Section 1902(e)(14)(A), to assist Medicaid agencies…

[UPDATE as of August 16, 2022: HHS Secretary Becerra signed an extension of the Public Health Emergency on July 15, 2022. With less than 60 days before the end of the current PHE, which runs through mid-October,  it is expected that the PHE will be renewed again as the Biden administration did not issue a…

A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) estimates the COVID-related increase in federal Medicaid and CHIP funding will exceed the cost of maintaining continuous coverage for Medicaid enrollees as required under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The analysis estimates that between January 2020 and September 2022, states will receive approximately $100.4 billion…

In an opinion piece for The Hill, American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Moira Szilagyi and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families Executive Director Joan Alker explain why it is so critical for the Biden administration to continue the public health emergency beyond July 15. An estimated 7 million children nationwide are at considerable risk…

As readers of SayAhhh! know, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is at an all-time high with close to 86 million people – covering half of the country’s children. Children and adults on Medicaid are protected by the continuous coverage provision including in the Families First Act (link to explainer) that prevents states from disenrolling anyone involuntarily.…