
-
BlogOn April 18, NACo submitted responses to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to their Request for Information (RFI) calling for stakeholder feedback and recommendations on increasing access to health coverage and care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).NACo responds to CMS Request for Information on Access to Medicaid and CHIP
-
Blog
NACo responds to CMS Request for Information on Access to Medicaid and CHIP
On April 18, NACo submitted responses to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to their Request for Information (RFI) calling for stakeholder feedback and recommendations on increasing access to health coverage and care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The RFI solicited responses on topics including program enrollment and coverage, service to vulnerable and diverse populations and the impact of provider payment rates on provider availability and quality.
In response to the RFI, NACo underscored the vital role counties have as investors, implementers and innovators of Medicaid services. As a federal, state and locally funded program, counties in over half of all states contribute to the non-federal share of Medicaid. In addition to fiscal investments, counties administer services through local hospitals, long-term care facilities, local health departments and behavioral health facilities and work innovatively to serve the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
To support counties in improving health care access and coverage, NACo provided the following recommendations to CMS in response to the RFI:
- Assess unique access and retention barriers for priority populations through engagement with county stakeholders
- Expand the Marketplace Navigator Grant Program for improved outreach efforts, and emphasize navigator diversity
- Amend exclusionary policies, such as the Institutes for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion and Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP), that limit access to Medicaid services and deepen disparities in health outcomes in certain populations
- Create a sustainable mechanism to address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes by removing the sunset on the Medicaid postpartum extension option
- Consider monitoring county economic trends to assess the need for greater flexibility in Medicaid eligibility determinations
- Seek input from counties in conjunction with our state partners to identify possible improvements in eligibility redeterminations
Counties support the implementation of CMS’s strategic vision for Medicaid and CHIP, and are committed to working collaboratively with state and federal partners to reduce barriers to healthcare access and ensure adequate availability of high-quality health care for all residents.
Additional Resources
- NACo Report: Medicaid and Counties
- NACo Policy Brief: Protect the Federal-State-Local Partnership for Medicaid
- NACo Blog: CMS seeks feedback on access to health care services and coverage through Medicaid and CHIP
On April 18, NACo submitted responses to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to their Request for Information (RFI) calling for stakeholder feedback and recommendations on increasing access to health coverage and care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).2022-04-26Blog2022-04-26
On April 18, NACo submitted responses to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to their Request for Information (RFI) calling for stakeholder feedback and recommendations on increasing access to health coverage and care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The RFI solicited responses on topics including program enrollment and coverage, service to vulnerable and diverse populations and the impact of provider payment rates on provider availability and quality.
In response to the RFI, NACo underscored the vital role counties have as investors, implementers and innovators of Medicaid services. As a federal, state and locally funded program, counties in over half of all states contribute to the non-federal share of Medicaid. In addition to fiscal investments, counties administer services through local hospitals, long-term care facilities, local health departments and behavioral health facilities and work innovatively to serve the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
To support counties in improving health care access and coverage, NACo provided the following recommendations to CMS in response to the RFI:
- Assess unique access and retention barriers for priority populations through engagement with county stakeholders
- Expand the Marketplace Navigator Grant Program for improved outreach efforts, and emphasize navigator diversity
- Amend exclusionary policies, such as the Institutes for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion and Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP), that limit access to Medicaid services and deepen disparities in health outcomes in certain populations
- Create a sustainable mechanism to address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes by removing the sunset on the Medicaid postpartum extension option
- Consider monitoring county economic trends to assess the need for greater flexibility in Medicaid eligibility determinations
- Seek input from counties in conjunction with our state partners to identify possible improvements in eligibility redeterminations
Counties support the implementation of CMS’s strategic vision for Medicaid and CHIP, and are committed to working collaboratively with state and federal partners to reduce barriers to healthcare access and ensure adequate availability of high-quality health care for all residents.
Additional Resources

About Blaire Bryant (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus
More from Blaire Bryant
-
Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Jun. 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmAs the front line of the social safety net, counties make significant investments in health and well-being to support our most vulnerable residents and are key partners with state and federal governments in efforts to combat hunger. In advance of the upcoming -
Blog
Congress clears bipartisan gun reform legislation
On June 25, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159), the first major gun reform legislation in decades. The bill makes critical changes to the process for acquiring a firearm and includes funding opportunities to assist in identifying and addressing mental health, and makes key investments in strengthening school safety. -
Blog
CDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systems
On June 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems, a new, flexible funding opportunity that will provide nearly $4 billion over five years to improve critical public health infrastructure to health departments across the country. -
Webinar
Protecting Public Health: Vector Disease Management and Mosquito Emergency Response
Jun. 21, 2022 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmCounty leaders are working across different sectors to coordinate programs and services that impact the well-being of communities, especially when it comes to the strong connection between the environment and public health. -
Blog
CDC approves COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5
On June 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months to 5 years old, following a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). -
Blog
Tell your county’s story by completing Medicaid and SNAP surveys
To better inform our understanding of the county role in administering Medicaid services and how counties can strengthen coordination between the Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites county health and human services officials to complete two research surveys.
-
Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
June 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmAs the front line of the social safety net, counties make significant investments in health and well-being to support our most vulnerable residents and are key partners with state and federal governments in efforts to combat hunger. In advance of the upcoming06303:00 pm<p>As the front line of the social safety net, counties make significant investments in health and well-being to support our most vulnerable residents and are key partners with state and federal governments in efforts to combat hunger.
-
Basic page
The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<h2>Overview</h2>
<blockquote>
<h3>Join the Initiative!</h3> -
Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
<caption>Jump to Section</caption> -
Reports & Toolkits
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Resource Hub
Explore NACo's resource hub for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.Reports & Toolkitsdocument010512:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), into law. This page and its contents are supplemental to NACo's comprehensive legislative analysis of the BIL for counties.Reports & Toolkitsdocument030310:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus(202) 942-4246
-
Legislative Assistant(202) 942-4259
Related Posts
-
BlogCongress clears bipartisan gun reform legislationJun. 29, 2022
-
BlogCDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systemsJun. 28, 2022
-
BlogCDC approves COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5Jun. 21, 2022
Related Resources
-
Press ReleaseNational Association of Counties Partners with National Council for Mental Wellbeing to Deliver Mental Health First Aid Training to County WorkforceJun. 1, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsPromoting Health and Safety Through a Behavioral Health Continuum of CareMay. 24, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsToolkit for Counties: The 988 National Suicide Prevention LifelineMay. 23, 2022
Related Events
-
30Jun2022Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Jun. 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm