November 6 Update

In Last Week’s Update:

  • Improved Tools to Support States During Open Enrollment
  • New Medicaid and CHIP Data
  • Updated Navigator Resources
  • Community-Driven, Multi-Payer Health Equity Solutions
  • Tracking Medicaid unwinding
  • State updates: AZ, CA, CO, KS, MA, ME, MN, NE, NJ, NY, OR, VA & WI

Last week, as the 11th annual open enrollment period (OEP) began, the Biden administration launched an updated window-shopping tool for HealthCare.gov. To support states as they communicate about this year’s OEP to consumers, State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) created sample messages and accompanying social media graphics available in English and Spanish.

New Medicaid and CHIP Data

Also last week, SHVS published an expert perspective which reviews newly available Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Marketplace data. The expert perspective summarizes key findings pertaining to Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, applications, and renewals, as well as Marketplace transitions. Updates follow.

 

Updated Navigator Resource Guide

The Georgetown Center on Health Insurance Reforms released an updated Navigator Resource Guide which includes a list of over 300 frequently asked questions (FAQs) on private insurance and Marketplace eligibility, fact sheets for all 50 states, an “Ask the Expert” feature, and resources for reaching diverse populations. Updates available for the 2024 open enrollment season include a “What’s New for 2024” page, additional FAQs translated into Spanish and FAQs about the Medicaid unwinding. Every FAQ and state fact sheet has been updated to reflect current federal and state policy.

Community-Driven, Multi-Payer Health Equity SolutionsThe Partnership to Align Social Care announced that applications are open for communities and their healthcare provider and payer partners to participate in an 18-month long learning collaborative. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the health equity learning collaborative (HELC) project, Community-Driven, Multi-Payer Health Equity Solutions: An ECHO Collaborative seeks to advance community driven models of care that promote health equity. The HELC will include up to 20 multi-sector teams focused on addressing health equity in their local communities. An informational webinar about this opportunity is available here. Applications are due by November 20, 2023.

 

Tracking the Medicaid Unwinding

Benefits Data Trust (BDT) is hosting a conversation on what Medicaid agencies have learned to improve renewal processes and reduce program churn as the unwinding continues. The webinar will bring together Joyce Johnson, Medicaid Eligibility Policy Director of the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services to discuss their efforts to improve ex parte renewals; Jennifer Wagner, Director of Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; and Heather Howard, on behalf of State Health and Value Strategies. The BDT webinar is on Tuesday, November 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET for a conversation on the national outlook of the Medicaid unwinding and next steps for states.

 

State updates: AZ, CA, CO, KS, MA, ME, MN, NE, NJ, NY, OR, VA & WI