CMS seeks feedback on access to health care services and coverage through Medicaid and CHIP

Key Takeaways

On February 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information (RFI) calling for stakeholder feedback for recommendations on how to increase access to health coverage and care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The RFI will be open for feedback through April 18, and specifically seeks comments on the following:

• Current coverage gaps and barriers to enrollment and maintaining coverage
• Ease and timeliness of accessing health care services and support
• Availability of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate care
• Strategies to boost provider enrollment and improve provider payment rates

Responses to the RFI will be used to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes within the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Information obtained through the RFI will also be used to develop future policies and inform regulatory actions.

More than 80 million Americans receive health care coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. Medicaid is the largest health coverage program in the country, covering 1 in 5 Americans, and is the largest source of funding for behavioral health services, including substance use disorder treatment. Medicaid also provides funding for long-term care services for the elderly in 758 county-owned and supported facilities, or 75 percent of all publicly owned nursing homes.

Counties play a vital role in the provision of health care services through Medicaid and CHIP, and in many instances, help states finance and administer the program. In addition, counties are both innovators and implementors of Medicaid services, with local health systems and frontline providers serving a critical role in Medicaid and CHIP’s federal-state-local partnership.

Counties stand ready to work with CMS to identify strategies to strengthen our nation’s health system through improved access to high-quality health care coverage for all residents, while being responsible stewards of local taxpayer dollars.

Additional Resources

• NACo Report: Medicaid and Counties: Understanding the Program and Why it Matters to Counties
• NACo Policy Brief: Protect the Federal-State-Local Partnership for Medicaid
• NACo Report: Medicaid Coverage and County Jails: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Health Outcomes for Justice-Involved Individuals