icaid and CHIP programs (service coverage, billing and coding, provider qualifications) to maximize health care support for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lists extensive updates of information and ongoing updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] on health and health care-related aspects of the current coronavirus public health emergency.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies Posts additional FAQs to aid state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new FAQs cover a variety of Medicaid and CHIP topics, including Eligibility and Enrollment; Notice and Fair Hearings; Optional COVID-Testing Group FAQs; Premiums and Cost Sharing; Benefits; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT); Information Technology; and Financing. CMS has integrated the new questions and answers with previous FAQ documents, and pledges to continue to review incoming questions and provide responses with ongoing updates to these FAQs.
Leveraging Medicaid to Support Early Childhood and Parental Mental Health Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Shares examples from several states of strategies to leverage cross-agency collaborations and strengthen Medicaid programs to support early childhood and parental mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and beyond. The Center for Health Care Strategies is leading a partnership, Aligning Early Childhood and Medicaid, under Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsorship, to enhance alignment across Medicaid and state agencies responsible for early childhood programs. This blog post describes Medicaid coverage of screening for maternal depression, extended coverage for women beyond 60 days post-partum, billing for family interventions, and other innovations.
Back-to-School and School-Based Outreach (Connecting Kids to Coverage): Hosts the ongoing Connecting Kids to Coverage campaign to support school-based efforts to inform parents their children and teens may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]. Such coverage can enable them to get check-ups, immunizations, eye exams, dental visits, mental health support and other care they may need to fully participate in classroom, after-school and summer activities. The Campaign offers outreach tools and materials to support school-based outreach efforts, including materials specifically tailored for Back-to-School outreach. The site offers a comprehensive School-Based Outreach and Enrollment Toolkit, along with e-newsletters, webinars, videos and more.
Restart & Recovery: Leveraging Federal COVID Relief Funding & Medicaid to Support Student & Staff Wellbeing & Connection: Highlights how state and local education agencies can use federal COVID-19 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to support student and staff mental health and wellbeing. This guide, developed by the Council for Chief State School Officers [CCSSO], Healthy Schools Campaign [HSC] and National Center for School Mental Health [NCSMH], explains how to leverage these one-time-only funds to access additional funding streams, such as Medicaid, to ensure efforts are sustained.
Updated Guidance Related to Planning for Resumption of Normal State Medicaid, CHIP and Basic Health Plan (BHP) Operations upon Conclusion of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE): Updates specific eligibility and enrollment guidance initially provided to states in December 2020 (SHO #20-004). The updated guidance (08/13/21) from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] extends the timeframe for states to complete pending eligibility and enrollment work to up to 12 months after the PHE ends; and requires states to complete a redetermination of eligibility after the PHE for all beneficiaries prior to taking any adverse action.
State Medicaid and CHIP Strategies to Protect Coverage During COVID-19: Describes the actions states have taken to protect a