The National Association of Medicaid Directors has told congressional leaders that a clearer picture is needed surrounding the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency's Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement.
"The uncertainty around the PHE is no longer tenable," the group said in a Nov. 17 letter to the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate. "NAMD strongly urges Congress to mitigate this yearslong uncertainty and provide firm commitments for states on timing and resources."
Providing certainty will empower states to "solidify the plans that are vital to minimizing coverage loss and ensuring the best outcomes for members served by Medicaid," the letter stated.
The group is asking that Congress:
- Provide at least 120 days notice of the start of the Medicaid redetermination period.
- Provide certainty that existing federal guidance on the redetermination period will not change.
- Provide certainty on financial resources during the redetermination period by maintaining the current 6.2 percentage point federal match enhancement through the first quarter of redeterminations and phasing the enhancement down over 12 months after this quarter.
- Provide certainty that underlying Medicaid eligibility rules will not change during the redetermination period.