Filter

171 - 180 of 460 Results

  • States Expect Medicaid Enrollment and Spending to Increase by Over 8 Percent Each in FY 2021, Primarily Driven By a Slumping Economy and Federal Conditions to Maintain Eligibility to Access Enhanced Federal Medicaid Funds

    News Release

    Following several years of declining or flat enrollment growth, states expect Medicaid enrollment and spending each to jump by more than 8 percent in fiscal year 2021, chiefly due to a slumping economy amid the pandemic and federal conditions to maintain coverage to access enhanced federal matching funds, according to a new KFF Medicaid budget…

  • Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2020 & 2021

    Issue Brief

    This brief analyzes Medicaid enrollment and spending trends for FY 2020 and FY 2021 based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 20th annual survey of Medicaid directors in states across the country and the District of Columbia. After relatively flat enrollment growth in FY 2020, states responding to the survey expect Medicaid enrollment to jump in FY 2021, attributed to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act “maintenance of eligibility” (MOE) requirements and to the economic downturn that started late in FY 2020. Across all reporting states, states were anticipating that total Medicaid spending growth would accelerate in FY 2021 compared to FY 2020. Enrollment was the primary factor identified as putting upward pressure on expenditure growth in FY 2021.

  • State Actions to Facilitate Access to Medicaid and CHIP Coverage in Response to COVID-19

    Issue Brief

    This brief summarizes state changes to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment policies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, beyond those required to access enhanced federal funding. It is based on KFF analysis of approved Medicaid and CHIP state plan amendments (SPAs) and information on state websites as of May 21, 2020.

  • As People Lose Jobs Due to the Coronavirus Crisis and Enroll in Medicaid, Survey Finds States Anticipate Medicaid Budget Shortfalls

    News Release

    Many states that shared budget projections in response to a new KFF survey of state Medicaid officials report that they expect to see Medicaid budget shortfalls due to rising Medicaid spending and enrollment as people lose jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic and more people enroll in the government health insurance program for low-income people.

  • Early Look at Medicaid Spending and Enrollment Trends Amid COVID-19

    Issue Brief

    The coronavirus pandemic has generated both a public health crisis and an economic crisis, with major implications for Medicaid, a countercyclical program. During economic downturns, more people enroll in Medicaid, increasing program spending at the same time state tax revenues may be falling. To help support states as enrollment in Medicaid grows and ensure existing enrollees maintain continuous coverage, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) authorized a 6.2 percentage point increase in the federal match rate (“FMAP”) (retroactive to January 1, 2020) available if states meet certain “maintenance of eligibility” (MOE) requirements. This brief provides some early insights into the current picture of Medicaid spending and enrollment, as Congress considers providing additional fiscal relief through the federal Medicaid match rate.

  • How Can Lessons from Medicaid Help Connect People to Unemployment Insurance?

    Issue Brief

    Millions of people are losing jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and seeking financial assistance through Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs. While UI can provide an important source of temporary assistance for many people losing jobs, there have been reports of major challenges accessing UI benefits. Over time, states have significantly streamlined Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) application and enrollment processes to overcome many similar challenges to connect eligible people to health insurance coverage. As such, previous experience enrolling individuals into Medicaid and CHIP can provide lessons learned that could help inform efforts to connect people to UI. This brief summarizes some key lessons learned and discusses how states could potentially apply these lessons to UI.

  • Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Cost Sharing Policies as of January 2020: Findings from a 50-State Survey

    Report

    This 18th annual survey of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) provides data on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility, enrollment, renewal, and cost sharing policies as of January 2020. The survey findings highlight state variation in policies that affect individuals’ ability to access coverage and care amid the COVID-19 public health crisis. They also provide examples of actions states can take to expand eligibility and simplify enrollment to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic.

  • Medicaid: What to Watch in 2020

    Issue Brief

    Medicaid, the provider of health insurance coverage for about one in five Americans and the largest payer for long-term care services in the community and nursing homes, continues to be a key part of health policy debates at the federal and state level. Key Medicaid issues to watch in 2020 include: Medicaid expansion developments; Section 1115 waiver activity; enrollment and spending trends; benefits, payment and delivery system reforms, and the implications of the 2020 elections.