A coalition of healthcare organizations, led by the health insurance group AHIP, has come together to create a "one-stop shop" to assist millions of Americans facing disenrollment from Medicaid when states review their benefit rolls in the coming months.
The Connecting to Coverage Coalition consists of 16 associations representing health insurance companies, providers and patients, including the Federation of American Hospitals, the American Health Care Association, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, AHIP announced Thursday.
The groups established a website to connect Medicaid enrollees with resources to learn about how Medicaid redeterminations will affect them and where they can obtain replacement coverage, such as from a health insurance exchange. The website also includes information for states and healthcare organizations to help them facilitate enrollment in alternative coverage.
Between 5.3 million and 14.2 million people could lose Medicaid once states begin removing enrollees who no longer qualify but have retained benefits during the public health emergency because federal pandemic support to states required continuous coverage, according to data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow states to begin culling their programs as soon as April 1.
In conjunction with the coalition announcement, AHIP issued a state-by-state report outlining the effects of redeterminations. According to the insurance group, more than half of who lose Medicaid coverage will enroll in employer-sponsored health plans and more than 20% will become uninsured. CMS will establish a special enrollment period on the health insurance exchanges to facilitate people shifting from Medicaid to subsidized private coverage, which will run from March 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024.
Although the AHIP-led effort includes representatives of for-profit and Catholic hospitals, the American Hospital Association and America's Essential Hospitals are not participating.
“AHA is deeply committed to ensuring all individuals and families are enrolled in comprehensive healthcare coverage," Molly Smith, group vice president of public policy, said in a statement. "We have been actively working with CMS, our member hospitals and health systems, and others to prepare for the Medicaid redetermination process to ensure that no one loses critical access to coverage and care. We have been in contact with the coalition and welcome additional advocacy on this important issue.”
An America's Essential Hospitals spokesperson said the safety net providers group was not asked to join but its “members routinely focus on access and connecting uninsured patients with coverage.”
The other members of the Connecting to Coverage Coalition are the American Benefits Council, Arc of the United States, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Cancer Support Community, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Medicaid Health Plans of America, Mental Health America, National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, National Association of Community Health Centers and UnidosUS.
