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Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on Medicaid Redetermination Guidance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, 202-204-7515; jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON MEDICAID REDETERMINATION GUIDANCE
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), issued the following statement on new guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which provide additional flexibility to stakeholders from across the health care spectrum—including health plans–in helping people complete the steps necessary to reverify their Medicaid eligibility during the “unwinding” from the COVID-19 public health emergency:
“Safety Net Health Plans have answered the call to do everything possible to help their members and others in their communities come forward for redetermination – and for the process to be as smooth and as accurate as possible.
“Like state Medicaid agencies around the country, our health plans have deployed sophisticated communications campaigns, ranging from AM radio to SMS messaging, to encourage their members to update their information – and watch for a redetermination letter.
“Some plans have formed partnerships with providers in their communities, such as pharmacies or doctors’ offices, and provided QR codes to send their members straight to the state’s Web site to update their information; others have banded together with health plans in their state with whom they would otherwise compete to share a common message to assist with the redetermination.
“This new guidance is welcome – it helps cut some of the red tape around redetermination, especially for people who find the process to be daunting. Sometimes a little help from someone at the doctor’s office, for instance, makes all the difference.
“It’s also important to note that even if someone has lost their coverage, Medicaid programs are still here for people who need them. People who missed a deadline can reapply. Families with kids, especially, should look closely to see whether they qualify for Medicaid or CHIP; kids often qualify where adults don’t.
“The Administration characterizes this as an all-hands-on-deck moment, and Safety Net Health Plans are pleased that this new guidance will allow for us to take more steps to help the redeterminations take place smoothly and accurately. We want everyone who’s still eligible for Medicaid and CHIP to have access to the coverage and care they deserve.”
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 80 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 25 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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