Molinaro Urges NYS & CMS to Help Medicaid Beneficiaries Navigate Unwinding of Pandemic-Era Rule, Prevent Unnecessary Gaps in Coverage

BINGHAMTON, New York, April 1 -- Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-New York, issued the following news release and letter on March 31, 2023:

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today urged Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Governor Kathy Hochul to take steps to help Medicaid beneficiaries navigate the unwinding of pandemic-era rules and prevent unnecessary gaps in health coverage.

In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal legislation was enacted to prohibit states from kicking children and families off Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - even if they were not eligible for the programs. Last year, President Biden enacted a bill to unwind this pandemic-era rule. As a result, states will begin disenrolling ineligible beneficiaries from Medicaid and CHIP starting today, April 1.

In a letter to Administrator Brooks-LaSure and Governor Hochul, Rep. Molinaro urged CMS and New York State to ensure the unwind process is transparent, effectively communicated, properly resourced, and that eligible enrollees are not mistakenly disenrolled.

Rep. Molinaro said, "We must ensure that Medicaid-eligible families and beneficiaries are protected and maintain coverage. This is a massive undertaking. New York State is determining eligibility for millions of New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, including thousands of enrollees in New York's 19th Congressional District. I know many beneficiaries are wondering what this process will look like and how they and their families will be impacted. We have to make sure information is effectively communicated to prevent unnecessary gaps in coverage and so families can make the best possible decision."

The full text of the letter can be found here (https://molinaro.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Letter_to_CMS_and_Hochul_re-_Medicaid_Redetermination__FINAL.pdf).

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Original text here: https://molinaro.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=123