AIAN-Unwinding

What is Unwinding?

At the start of the pandemic, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which included a requirement that Medicaid programs keep people continuously enrolled through the end of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends, in exchange for enhanced federal funding. Primarily due to the continuous enrollment provision, Medicaid enrollment has grown substantially compared to before the pandemic and the uninsured rate has dropped. But, when the continuous enrollment provision ends, millions of people could lose coverage that could reverse recent gains in coverage. As part of an end-of-the-year spending bill, Congress signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) on December 29, 2022, that  set an end to the continuous enrollment provision on March 31, 2023, and separates the continuous coverage provision from the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The CCA provides for a phase down of the enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds through December 2023. States that accept the enhanced federal funding can resume disenrollments beginning in April but must meet certain reporting and other requirements during the unwinding process.

In an effort to minimize the number of people that lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage, CMS is working with states and other stakeholders to inform people about renewing their coverage and exploring other available health insurance options if they no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. To find information about how to renew Medicaid or CHIP in your particular state, please visit our interactive map at Medicaid.gov.

CMS views Medicaid and CHIP continuous enrollment unwinding as 2 phases:

• Phase 1: Prepare for the renewal process and educate Medicaid and CHIP enrollees about the upcoming changes.
• Phase 2: Ensure Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries take the necessary steps to renew coverage, and transition to other coverage if they’re no longer eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.

Source: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/downloads/unwinding-comms-toolkit.pdf#page=2

Begin Preparation. Stay Informed. Stay Active.

There are many tools to help you stay informed and to help you ensure continuity of coverage and preventing inappropriate terminations for eligible Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.

• CMS shared the presentation, Strengthening Tribal and State Partnerships to Prepare for Unwinding, with National Association of Medicaid Directors.
• Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives is a tool to understand health care coverage for AI/ANs in Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Marketplace.
• CMS has also produced a Medicaid Unwinding Toolkit for partners and stakeholders.
• National Indian Health Board (NIHB), in collaboration with the Indian Health Service (IHS), has created a Medicaid Unwinding Toolkit for Tribal Enrollment Assisters.
• The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) recently released a Medicaid unwinding toolkit for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs)
• Join the Medicaid & CHIP All State Calls.  For more information about these calls please email: MedicaidCOVID19@cms.hhs.gov
• Join the TTAG Unwinding Subcommittee.  For more information about this subcommittee please email CMSTribalAffairs@cms.hhs.gov

New CMS Ad Resource: Don't Wait! Update! Get Ready to Renew Your Medicaid or CHIP Coverage

Don’t Wait! Update! Get Ready to Renew Your Medicaid or CHIP Coverage (:30 Seconds)

Don’t Wait! Update! Get Ready to Renew Your Medicaid or CHIP Coverage (:15 Seconds)

Don’t Wait! Update! Get Ready to Renew Your Medicaid or CHIP Coverage (:06 Seconds)

For more information, including additional resources, tools to support state unwinding efforts, and information shared during All State Calls, please visit www.Medicaid.gov/unwinding.