Awards for 36 grants support President Biden’s Executive Orders on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and represent the largest outreach and enrollment investment ever made through the Connecting Kids to Coverage program.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through Centers for Medicare & amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) today allocated $ 49 million to frontline organizations to reduce uninsured rates and connect more children, parents and families to health care. In support of President Biden’s Executive Orders on Strengthening Medicine and the Affordable Care Act, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s priority to expand access to affordable, high quality healthcare, these awards represent the largest investment CMS has ever made in seeking and enrolling through Connecting Kids to coverage program.
“At HHS, it is a top priority to make high-quality healthcare affordable and affordable for all Americans,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Over the past year, through outstanding investments in outreach and enrollment efforts, a record 14.5 million people have signed up for healthcare through the ACA Marketplace. With today’s historic investment in Medicaid and CHIP, we will redouble our efforts to get children and parents covered – and give them the security that comes with it. “
Grant recipients will provide enrollment and renewal assistance to children and their families, and – for the first time ever – to expectant parents to promote improved health outcomes for mothers and infants. CMS issued 36 collaboration agreements in 20 states through Medicaid’s Connecting Kids to Coverage program. Beneficiaries – including state and local governments, tribal organizations, federal health care organizations, nonprofits and schools – will each receive up to $ 1.5 million over three years to promote the registration and retention of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
“Ensuring that children and families have health coverage is a key priority for the Biden-Harris administration. CMS is committed to using all available tools to expand coverage,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Families often seek help and information from community organizations they know and trust, and we recognize the key role they play in promoting the registration and retention of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs. ” the school initiative, the year-round enrollment initiative and new initiatives focused on retaining individuals in Medicaid and CHIP, this work will be key, not only as states prepare to resume normal Medicaid and CHIP operations when the COVID-19 public health crisis is over , but also as CMS continues to build on the Biden-Harris administration’s success in linking record numbers of people t in health care coverage. “
In addition, grant recipients will work on several unique activities. They can:
This unique funding bridges many of the gaps that prevent qualified children from connecting to coverage. Of the United States’ 4 million uninsured children, studies show that 2.3 million are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. However, many of their families either do not know they are qualified or are struggling to sign up. There are also pronounced differences. Native American and Alaska natives have the highest uninsured rates (11.8%), followed by those who are Hispanic (11.4%) and non-Hispanic blacks (5.9%). Targeting new and expectant parents can also lead to increased enrollment of children, since infants born to people on Medicaid and CHIP are automatically considered eligible for one year.
The new Connecting Kids to Coverage fellows were funded through Helping Ensure Access for Small Ones, Toddlers and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 (HEALTHY KIDS Act). The HEALTHY KIDS Act continues to provide funding for outreach and enrollment to reduce the number of children who are eligible for, but not enrolled, Medicaid and CHIP. Since 2009, the HEALTHY KIDS Act has helped CMS allocate $ 265 million to more than 330 community-based organizations, states and local governments.
For a complete list of grant recipients and more information about their work, visit insurekidsnow.gov.
