CMS is ramping up efforts to connect over 2 million people who have been disenrolled from Medicaid coverage to ACA plans.
"We're in the execution phase to be the appropriate landing spot for many of the folks who are no longer eligible for Medicaid and CHIP," Jeff Grant, deputy director for operations at CMS' Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, said on a July 17 call with stakeholders.
The agency is ramping up outreach to people who may be losing Medicaid coverage through text, email, phone calls and more mailers.
"We've got to get outreach and communication in place to get people to our front door so that they actually do see the affordability options that are there for them and can make an appropriate choice," Mr. Grant said.
The agency is also funding navigator programs to connect people who may have lost coverage with community organizations that can provide them in-person help in choosing a new plan.
"This is really the most exciting thing for us, to be able to create this new process that we've never done before for this group of consumers," Mr. Grant said.
As of July 18, at least 2.9 million people have been disenrolled from Medicaid as part of the redeterminations process, according to KFF. Of those disenrolled, 75 percent were for procedural reasons, rather than being deemed ineligible for the program.
Daniel Tsai, CMS deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP services, said providers and health plans can make sure their beneficiaries know to respond to mail from their Medicaid provider and that they may qualify for coverage on individual marketplace.
"I think we see low awareness among our Medicaid enrollees of what's happening. So number one for health plans, providers, advocates is really making sure people are aware," Mr. Tsai said.