How are State Medicaid Programs Approaching Unwinding of the Federal Continuous Enrollment Provision

KFF estimates that enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will have grown by 23.3 million enrollees, to nearly 95 million, by the end of March, when the federal continuous enrollment provision expires. Starting April 1, states can resume disenrollments, which have been paused since February 2020. Millions of beneficiaries are expected to be disenrolled over the next year, including some who are no longer eligible for Medicaid and others who still qualify but lose coverage due to administrative paperwork problems.
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, KFF hosted an hour-long web briefing focused on how state Medicaid programs are approaching this unwinding of the continuous enrollment provision. States’ existing enrollment and renewal procedures and their differing approaches to the unwinding will have major impacts on Medicaid enrollees, state spending, and broader health coverage trends.
Jennifer Tolbert, an associate director of KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, and Tricia Brooks, research professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF), presented findings from KFF’s 21st annual survey of state Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, and renewal policies, conducted with CCF. The survey highlighted actions states are taking to prepare for the unwinding and provides a snapshot of current state enrollment and renewal procedures.
Robin Rudowitz, a vice president at KFF and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, moderated the briefing. A panel of federal and state experts provided their perspectives. They included:
Jessica Stephens, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Center Director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Kate McEvoy, Executive Director, National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD)
Tia Whitaker, Statewide Director, Outreach and Enrollment, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers