One year after the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision ended, 19.2 million people have been disenrolled from Medicaid, according to KFF. This is higher than many expected, and experts have mixed reviews on how they think this process has gone.
In predicting that the Medi-Cal coverage protections during the pandemic would end, advocates successfully pushed for California to adopt a continuous Medi-Cal coverage policy for children ages 0-5 – avoiding annual renewals during this vulnerable time in their childhood development. For this important protection to become a reality as soon as possible, we now need the Governor to fund and greenlight this policy immediately–in his January 2024 Budget proposal.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
New KFF focus groups revealed that some thought the process of renewing Medicaid coverage during the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provision was simple. Others, however, faced challenges with communication from state Medicaid agencies, and some weren't aware their coverage had been terminated.
Due to the end of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision, at least 1.5 million Medicaid enrollees have lost coverage as of June 29, according to KFF. About 71% of those who were disenrolled from Medicaid were disenrolled for procedural reasons.
The Medicaid continuous enrollment provision ended March 31, meaning states are resuming the renewal process for Medicaid and disenrolling those who no longer qualify for coverage or don't renew coverage. Most Medicaid enrollees are unprepared for this, a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed.
By the end of March, Medicaid/CHIP enrollment will have grown by 23.3 million members since the start of the pandemic, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. This is largely due to the continuous enrollment provision enacted during the pandemic, which barred states from disenrolling members and is set to expire March 31.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
The continuous enrollment requirement, which barred states from disenrolling Medicaid members, will end March 31. About three-quarters of managed care plans anticipate 10% to 25% of their Medicaid enrollees losing coverage once the continuous enrollment provision ends.
Health Net's “Review to Renew” campaign will leverage print and digital media — such as mail, interactive voice response calls, text messages, social media, digital advertisements and posters — to make Medi-Cal members aware of the end of the continuous enrollment requirement and provide them with resources to retain coverage.
The Kaiser Family Foundation examined pre-pandemic data to determine what will happen to those disenrolled from Medicaid and CHIP once the continuous enrollment requirement ends March 31. The analysis found that 65% of those disenrolled went through a period of uninsurance.