The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to eke out a whopping $49.4 million to assist institutions committing eligible children, parents, and pregnant individuals to healthcare coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These organizations will include state/local governments, tribal organizations, federal health safety net organizations, non-profits, schools, and others. These organizations will get up to $1.5 million each for a three-year period to reduce the number of uninsured children by advancing Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and retention.
- Govt welcomes gesture: Reacting to CMS’s initiative, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, said, “No one should be left without access to critical health care, especially during the pandemic.” Becerra said, “This historic funding opportunity is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to get as many Americans covered with affordable, quality health coverage.”
- Boost to Biden Admin: The move is likely to be a big boon for President Joe Biden’s 2021 Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. The funding leverages the Connecting Kids to Coverage programme to continue making health care more accessible and affordable.
- What beneficiaries must do: The applicant organizations will be required to engage with schools and other programs serving young people; help in bridging racial and demographic health coverage disparities; establish and develop application assistance resources to provide high-quality, reliable enrollment and renewal services in local communities, among others.
- Focus on uninsured children: The funding is key to ensure that children are enrolled in coverage, especially those who are eligible but not yet enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP coverage. Of around 4 million children who remain uninsured, 2.3 million are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. Many families do not know that their children may be eligible or understand how to enroll.
- Role of Medicaid, CHIP: Medicaid and CHIP play a critical role by providing coverage for over 42% of births in the nation, nearly half of which are to Black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals. Because Medicaid and CHIP coverage is a key step in ensuring access to necessary prenatal care and healthy birth outcomes, this funding opportunity is including pregnant individuals as a new target population.