Coalition urges continued transparency and reporting as Medicaid unwinding continues

Last week, AHIP and 22 members of the Connecting to Coverage Coalition (CCC) sent a letter to CMS, seeking more transparency and data sharing to help keep people covered during the Medicaid redetermination process. In the letter, the Coalition requests that CMS extend the monthly renewal reports past the end of the unwinding period, and also work with states to stratify the data they report and make available to better track key population groups who could be particularly harmed by coverage losses, such as children and dual eligibles.

The letter acknowledges the efforts of all stakeholders in this extraordinary process:

“We appreciate the historic and unprecedented nature of the Medicaid unwinding and applaud the leadership that CMS has provided to address the ongoing challenges states face during this time. We also acknowledge and are grateful for the immense work that states have done thus far to redetermine Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for their programs, and we appreciate the ongoing collaboration between CMS and states to improve the process particularly around improved data.”

The letter also requests continued reporting for beneficiaries who regain coverage:

“We also believe that it is important for states to report to CMS, and for it to be publicly available, information pertaining to Medicaid beneficiaries whose coverage has been reinstated after being previously terminated.”

The letter closes by asking CMS to better track how vulnerable populations are experiencing redeterminations:

“Specifically, we request CMS work with states on a glidepath to producing Medicaid renewal data for the following populations:

• Children;
• Dually eligible individuals;
• Pregnant and postpartum women, and
• The aged, blind, or disabled eligibility group.”

The CCC represents a diverse collection of stakeholders partnering to minimize disruptions in health coverage associated with the resumption of state Medicaid renewals or “redeterminations” in 2023. As states return to their normal Medicaid operations, the CCC is coordinating with community leaders to ensure that people have access to trusted, reliable information that helps them enroll in health insurance coverage to protect their health and financial security.

Click here to read the letter.

Click here to view more AHIP resources on Medicaid redeterminations.