In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), America’s Essential Hospitals commented on the Streamlining the Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program Application, Eligibility Determination, Enrollment, and Renewal Processes proposed rule.
The association supports the improved Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment procedures, as well as new guidelines for states to check available data before terminating eligibility and timelines to complete renewals.
In the letter, America’s Essential Hospitals also encourages CMS to educate and provide funding for essential hospital staff to conduct Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment activities.
Essential hospitals will be critical in educating beneficiaries about the changes and assisting them with applications. Hospital staff must be directly informed about process changes, new resources and new technology used to streamline Medicaid and CHIP applications. Further, the cost of these activities is substantial and often unreimbursed by states. CMS should leverage the Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors program to fund outreach, eligibility, and enrollment activities conducted by essential hospitals.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
