16 states with excessive Medicaid application processing times, per CMS

Over a dozen states fell behind processing Medicaid applications in May as they redetermined the eligibility of existing members, according to CMS. 

On Aug. 9, the agency sent letters to Medicaid directors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, evaluating states' performance on Medicaid call center wait times and call abandonment rates, rates of procedural terminations and the average wait time for applications to be approved. 

In 16 states and Washington, D.C, 10 percent or more of Medicaid applications based on income took more than 45 days to be processed, which exceeds regulatory requirements, according to CMS. 

The agency acknowledges some states may have new applications to process in addition to renewals, Annie Marie Costello, deputy director of CMS' Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, wrote to state Medicaid directors. 

"However, given that application volume may increase as individuals disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP during the renewal process reapply, it is imperative that states complete this work on processing new applications expeditiously and maintain timely application processing to ensure timely access to coverage for eligible individuals," Ms. Costello wrote. 

States that do not speed up application processing by July may be required to submit a corrective action plan, Ms. Costello wrote. 

Here are the 17 states with excessive wait times, and the percent of applications processed after 45 days in May 2023: 

1. Alaska: 40 percent
2. California: 18 percent
3. District of Columbia: 26 percent
4. Florida: 10 percent
5. Georgia: 12 percent
6. Kansas: 11 percent
7. Maine: 10 percent
8. Montana: 15 percent
9. Nebraska: 11 percent
10. New Jersey: 10 percent
11. New Mexico: 44 percent
12. North Dakota: 15 percent 
13. Ohio: 11 percent 
14. Rhode Island: 12 percent 
15. Texas: 16 percent 
16. Virginia: 17 percent