Waivers
Section 1115 of the Social Security Act establishes authority for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive certain provisions of the Medicaid and CHIP statutes for a state to establish an “experimental, pilot or demonstration” project that promotes the objectives of the program. Such demonstrations are intended to test and learn about new approaches to program design and administration. States have obtained Section 1115 waivers that make broad changes in Medicaid eligibility, benefits, cost sharing, and delivery and payment of care.
Oklahoma Voters Approve Constitutional Amendment to Expand Medicaid
Oklahoma voters took a historic step and nudged their state forward toward becoming the 38th in the nation (including Washington, DC) to provide residents more affordable health insurance through their Medicaid program. The constitutional amendment passed by voters requires the state to open the doors to coverage no later than July 1, 2021. State leaders […]
Medicaid Work Requirements in the Time of Unemployment
Between March 1 and June 6, a total of 44.5 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment insurance. These massive job losses will result in a dramatic increase in the number of Americans without health insurance coverage, threatening the ability of unemployed Americans to afford needed care for themselves and their families during the COVID-19 […]
Racial Health Inequities and Medicaid Work Requirements
Research by the Center for Children and Family demonstrates that Medicaid work reporting requirements proposed for low-income parents would disproportionately affect African American mothers and families. In three of the five states we reviewed, African American adults represent the largest proportion of the population subject to work reporting requirements. In all five states, the share […]
Medicaid Work Requirements: News from the Litigation Front
It has been obvious for several months that the wheels have come off the Medicaid work requirements bus. The Secretary of HHS has approved “demonstrations” of work requirements in nine states; none of these states is currently implementing. And no state that accepts the 6.2 percentage point increase in its federal Medicaid matching rate made […]
States Should Reevaluate Harmful Medicaid Waivers to Respond to COVID-19
To respond to the COVID-19 crisis, many states have made significant, temporary changes to their Medicaid programs, mostly through emergency waivers and state plan amendments. However, states also have the option to make more lasting changes by reversing harmful policies in their Section 1115 waivers. Unwinding bad waivers not only makes it easier for states, […]
COVID-19 Medicaid Waiver Soup Explained
Over the past month there has been an explosion of Medicaid waiver activity relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. This activity is not to be confused with the implosion of the Medicaid section 1115 work requirements waivers, which would undermine coverage. Instead, the COVID-related waivers are designed to help state Medicaid programs respond to the pandemic, […]