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Statement of ACAP on Streamlining Eligibility and Enrollment Final Rule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2024
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Samantha Anderson, (202) 204-7424, sanderson@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP ON STREAMLINING ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT FINAL RULE
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated regulations governing Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment.
“For too long, Medicaid and CHIP enrollees have had to contend with unnecessary gaps in coverage caused by red tape and a historically challenging renewal process. ACAP applauds CMS for today’s final rule that helps to streamline eligibility determinations and enrollment and stabilizes coverage for tens of millions of individuals.
“This final rule by CMS makes it easier for people who qualify for coverage to receive it. We are grateful for this strong first step and will continue our years-long effort of urging Congress to implement a statutory requirement of 12-month continuous eligibility for all Medicaid and CHIP enrollees.
“This morning, the Department of Health and Human Services also released a new report showing that a policy of nationwide 12-month continuous eligibility for children on Medicaid and CHIP – a policy for which ACAP led advocacy efforts for over a decade – will benefit as many as 17 million children. We look forward to this rule positively impacting the lives of millions of children and adults as well.”
“We are pleased to see final policies that will provide a 90-day reconsideration period for renewal applicants who submit documentation after they are terminated, eliminate premium lock-out periods and waiting periods in CHIP, plus ease transitions between Medicaid, CHIP, and the health insurance Marketplaces. ACAP also supports the requirement that states retain applicant and enrollee information for three years – rules like this ensure fewer errors are caused by missing paperwork.
“ACAP also strongly supports CMS’s decision to make permanent and strengthen flexibilities granted to states during the unwinding period, including requiring states to accept updated enrollee contact information supplied by Medicaid health plans and requiring states to partner with the National Change of Address Database and USPS forwarding address service.”
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 79 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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