188 HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT 12-MONTH CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY FOR ADULTS IN MEDICAID AND CHIP

WASHINGTON—A group of almost 190 organizations representing health care consumers, payers and providers sent a joint letter to Congressional and committee leadership urging them to support 12-month continuous eligibility for adults enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The joint letter calls on Congress to enact the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act, H.R. 5434 and S. 3138.  

Medicaid and CHIP provide critical health coverage to more than 80 million Americans, including children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, older adults and adults with low incomes. Millions of enrollees lose this safety net coverage within a year – despite often still being eligible – only to re-enroll within a few months. This “churn” is often caused by inefficient paperwork, overly burdensome reporting requirements, or temporary income fluctuations.   

Evidence abounds of the benefits of continuous eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP, including improved health outcomes, lower avoidable administrative costs, and relief for providers from double-checking that their patients retain coverage.  

“The staggering disenrollment rate during the Medicaid unwinding only increases the urgency to put in place strong state policies to keep people covered. Communities of color are especially vulnerable to fall through cracks in coverage,” said Anthony Wright, Families USA Incoming Executive Director. “Gaps in coverage can be the difference between life and death, as people caught in the churn have worse access to treatments, delay needed care and end up in the emergency department more often. Congress must pass the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act and work to ensure more equitable access to stable, continuous coverage for our nation’s adults.”     

“We are grateful for Congress’ work in passing nationwide 12-month continuous eligibility for all children in Medicaid and CHIP through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023,” said Jennifer McGuigan Babcock, Senior Vice President for Medicaid Policy at ACAP.  “We now ask that this protection be extended to adults. No one should fear losing their access to comprehensive health care due to missing paperwork or fluctuations in income due to working a few extra hours in a given month or by picking up an additional shift.”  

Support for continuous eligibility continues to grow. Five states already provide 12-month continuous eligibility to all or some adults and more states are pursuing the policy as a means to ensure eligible enrollees retain their coverage.  

The letter is available in full here.