CMS Report Ranks New York State Among Highest Performing Five States in Keeping Children Enrolled
New York Continues to Automate Enrollment Processes and Implement a Robust Outreach and Education Campaign
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 20, 2023) – The New York State Department of Health announced today it ranks among the top five states in keeping families and children enrolled in Medicaid during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) unwind, according to a report released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Data from the report shows that states that have adopted more flexibilities provided by CMS and prioritized auto-renewals (ex parte) have helped keep more eligible children enrolled in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.
“With the support of Governor Hochul, the State Health Department has taken full advantage of CMS-approved waivers allowing New York to maintain our unprecedented levels of health insurance coverage for New Yorkers, particularly children,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Keeping individuals and families covered is our top priority and we will continue to do so through ongoing education and outreach.”
New York has taken advantage of 10 federal waivers to increase health insurance renewals and has implemented a number of technology improvements to increase the number of individuals whose coverage could be automatically renewed.
New York has utilized the following 10 waivers:
- 100 Percent FPL e14 Approval
- Enrollment Broker Contact e14 Approval
- Fair Hearing e14 Approval
- MCO Contact e14 Approval
- Non-MAGI SNAP e14 Approval
- SNAP CHIP e14 Approval
- Zero Income e14 Approval
- Asset Waiver e14 Approval
- Waiver of the SSI-related budgeting methodology so that individuals over 65 and/or with Medicare can remain in NY State of Health.
- Waiver that allows individuals with fixed social security or pension income that is below the income eligibility level to be ex-parte renewed.
These 10 waivers are also referenced on the CMS website.
Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act's continuous coverage requirement, New York State Medicaid, Child Health Plus (CHPlus) and Essential Plan (EP) members have not had to renew their health insurance since early 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 required states to begin the process of redetermining enrollees in April 2023 through May 2024. This process is also referred to as the "unwind.”
Since the beginning of the PHE unwind in spring of 2023, the Department of Health has initiated a robust outreach effort to reach as many enrollees as possible. New York State is continuing auto-renewal processes that were in place prior to the PHE in addition to implementing several federal waivers to ensure that auto-enrollment is available to as many enrollees as possible. Information on these efforts can be found in monthly renewal dashboards and approved federal waivers found here.
Renewals for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan have resumed monthly processing as of June 2023. Enrollees in these public health insurance programs are now required to take action to renew their health insurance. If New Yorkers are no longer eligible for these programs, they can enroll in new health insurance through NY State of Health. The State is monitoring these renewal activities with a monthly Public Health Emergency Unwind Dashboard, which tracks renewal status, demographics, and state program transitions.
New York State has and will continue to leverage available federal flexibilities to keep New Yorkers enrolled in public health insurance programs. The State Department of Health, and NY State of Health will continue to work with enrollment assistors and other partners as well as continue to target outreach efforts to help consumers.
For more information or questions about eligibility reviews and the renewal process, consumers should reach out to the NY State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777 or to their local Department of Social Services office, or learn more on the NY State of Health website and the Department of Health's Medicaid website. Both sites are updated regularly.
Monthly PHE unwind dashboards can be found here.
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Contact: New York State Department of Health
518-474-2043 x. 2