Medicaid Unwinding

The federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) implemented flexibilities that help people across the country get on, and stay on, Medicaid. As a result, Medicaid enrollment numbers swelled during the pandemic.

Originally, the flexibilities and protections put in place during the pandemic were going to end with the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). However, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriate Act of 2023, which set the end date for the pandemic related Medicaid continuous coverage requirement as March 31, 2023. This means that state Medicaid agencies will begin the process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility for those beneficiaries who have not had their coverage renewed during the PHE as early as February 1, 2023. Medicaid terminations will begin as early as April 1, 2023 and end 14 months after the process starts, but some states will work to do it more quickly. It is anticipated that millions of individuals and families could lose coverage through this unwinding process.

Public education, outreach and advocacy will be critical to ensuring that individuals and families do not erroneously lose coverage. NHeLP, our partners, and other organizations will be supporting advocates on the ground to ensure a smooth unwinding process that preserves Medicaid coverage for all people who remain eligible.

NHeLP’s litigation team is monitoring the continuous coverage unwinding and focusing on this litigation. If you are interested in discussing litigation, please contact NHeLP’s Litigation Director, Jane Perkins at [email protected].