States Prepare for Medicaid's Growth Spurt
The Affordable Care Act sets a new national floor for Medicaid coverage. By 2019, Medicaid is estimated to cover an additional 16 million of the most vulnerable Americans, significantly increasing the shape and size of the program. Getting ready for this growth spurt is largely in the hands of states. On this State Refor(u)m webinar, officials from three states provided a closer look at what states are doing to prepare. They answered questions like: Who is likely to enroll and how did the state make these estimates? How are existing eligibility categories expected to change? How will Medicaid integrate with the insurance exchange? How is Medicaid addressing benchmark plan design and access to services? What are strategies to involve stakeholders in this process?
Moderator:
Sonya Schwartz, Program Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Speakers:
- Nathan Johnson, Assistant Director, Division of Health Care Policy, Washington Health Care Authority
- Elena Nicolella, Medicaid Director, Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Julie Weinberg, Director, Medical Assistance Division, New Mexico Human Services Department
Sarabeth Zemel also gave an overview of where states are on exchange implementation based on information collected from State Refor(u)m. Has your state begun work on exchange implementation that you don’t see reflected here? Share your work if your state has, for example:
- Modeled Medicaid take-up rate
- Begun integrating eligibility systems
- Considered options related to benefit continuity
Continue the webinar conversation online! Whether you tuned in or had to miss it, you can view the slides and recording below, and continue the dialogue here. Read Q and A highlights from the webinar, then add your own questions in the comments, or offer a perspective from your state in response to someone else’s query.
Download the slides or watch the recording below.
Related categories:
– See more at: https://www.statereforum.org/webinars/state-prepare-for-medicaids-growth-spurt#sthash.yEfIGZda.dpuf
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