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EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 AM EST June 12, 2024 Contact: [email protected] Today, the Connecting to Coverage Coalition (CCC), a diverse group of stakeholders with a shared interest in protecting American health coverage, issued a comprehensive white paper containing a set of policy recommendations to improve the efficiency and accuracy of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility determinations while reducing administrative burdens that both prevent eligible families from retaining coverage and increase states’ operating costs. Policies that maximize automatic or paperless renewals based on information showing continued eligibility, expand data collection and transparency, and facilitate alignment across programs are crucial strategies for protecting health coverage during and beyond the unwinding period, thereby promoting America’s health and well-being. CCC recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) leverage its existing legal authority to make current paperless renewal flexibilities available to states on an ongoing basis, as well as provide additional guidance to states to help them further adopt these flexibilities. Additionally, CCC urges CMS to work with states to report and publicly release data on the Medicaid termination and renewal rates of children, individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicaid, pregnant and postpartum women, people who are aged, blind, or disabled, non-English speakers, and those reinstated after previous termination during the unwinding. CMS should also work with states to include the release of data disaggregated by race and ethnicity as part of broader efforts to promote transparency and health equity and to further understand the impacts of unwinding. Congress should explore and promote further opportunities to streamline enrollment and reduce administrative burdens for individuals transitioning from Medicaid coverage, the CCC also urged. This includes permanently extending current ACA premium tax credits and policy changes to ensure continuous access to quality, affordable coverage through the federal Marketplace and state exchanges. Such coverage helps people obtain prescription drugs, medical office and hospital visits, treatments, and other health care services. The CCC will host a virtual briefing on the white paper and the state of Medicaid unwinding on June 26 from 1-2 PM EST. Additional details and registration can be viewed at www.connectingtocoverage.org/CCC-briefing XXX
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