State Health Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota, issuing body.
University of Minnesota. School of Public Health. Division of Health Policy and Management, issuing body.
Publication:
[Minneapolis, Minnesota] : State Health Access Data Assistance Center, October 19, 2018
Over the last decade, simplifying and streamlining state Medicaid enrollment and renewal processes and systems have been a priority for state agencies. These changes were accelerated with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. The ACA called for enhancements to Medicaid, including the implementation of revised eligibility rules, a single streamlined application, and use of technology to verify and exchange data in support of near real-time eligibility determinations. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other federal agencies provided states with guidance and incentives to modernize and integrate eligibility systems in order to efficiently enroll Medicaid-eligible individuals. As the legislative branch agency charged with advising Congress on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) sought to better understand the post-ACA status of state systems and processes used to support Medicaid program eligibility, enrollment, and renewal. To do so, MACPAC contracted with the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health to conduct an assessment in selected states of current Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, and renewal practices, and the extent to which they are achieving desired goals (such as program efficiency and simplified beneficiary experience). A case study approach was used to collect data regarding the state of practices associated with enrolling the Medicaid population for which income eligibility is determined based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Specifically, we assessed auto-enrollment and auto-renewal practices, the use of electronic data sources for verification, and the degree of integration with non-MAGI Medicaid populations and other public benefit programs. Case studies did not focus on other aspects of Medicaid enrollment, namely outreach and consumer assistance, community partnerships, enrollment and credentialing of providers, and call center technology. The study focused on six states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, New York, and North Carolina) where documentation showed steps toward implementing streamlined, automated or integrated approaches to Medicaid enrollment and renewal. States were selected based on a literature scan as well as discussions with MACPAC and external experts and represented diversity across a range of characteristics including Medicaid program size, exchange type, adoption of the ACA Medicaid expansion, current enrollment and renewal practices, geography, and political climate. This case study summary report includes findings from Idaho based on: telephone interviews with seven key informants conducted in May and June of 2018; a review of publicly available and state-provided documents (e.g., verification plans submitted to CMS); and data collected in advance of telephone discussions on the organization of the state's Medicaid program, eligibility system, and other information technology resources to support MAGI Medicaid eligibility determination. (See the Appendix for a copy of the data collection form used to gather information in advance of telephone interviews with state agencies.) Key informants (also referred to as respondents) in Idaho represented state Medicaid eligibility and Medicaid program administration staff, the state-based exchange, and two advocacy organizations. The case study begins with an overview of Medicaid in Idaho and a high-level description of how individuals apply and how their eligibility is determined for MAGI Medicaid populations. Included in this overview section are case study findings related to the approaches Idaho is taking to streamline enrollment and renewal for MAGI Medicaid populations. Next, we present key themes, as identified by key informants, related to Medicaid program and beneficiary experiences, including successes and challenges of Idaho's approaches. Lastly, we summarize ongoing issues and future plans in the study state to further simplify and streamline enrollment.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)