The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging states, members of Congress, the health care industry, community organizations, advocacy coalitions, and other public and private partners to do everything in their power to help people stay covered.

CMS hosted a National Stakeholder Call on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renewals on June 14. During the call, CMS announced additional actions it is taking to address the concerning numbers of Medicaid disenrollments reported from states that have initiated the process of ending the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition from the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

According to KFF, at least 1,295,000 Medicaid enrollees have been disenrolled. Seventy-four percent of all people disenrolled had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons. Comprehensive analysis is difficult since not all states are providing the same data.

Family physicians can play an important role in the unwinding process by advocating for patients and communicating to them the importance of updating their eligibility information with the states.

• CMS Press Release: HHS Takes Additional Action to Keep People Covered as States Resume Medicaid, CHIP Renewals
• Secretary Letter to Governors: This letter discusses HHS’ role in monitoring progress and enforcing compliance as well as flexibilities available for states to help ensure the process runs smoothly.
• Strategies to Prevent Procedural Terminations: This document describes multiple strategies states are encouraged to adopt to streamline renewals during the Unwinding period, minimize terminations for procedural reasons, and quickly reenroll eligible families who have lost coverage. It also highlights several new strategies CMS has recently made available to states.
• All Hands On-Deck Fact Sheet: This fact sheet includes an update on Unwinding and strategies to help keep people covered.
• All Hands On Deck: What YOU Can Do: This fact sheet outlines specific actions for people with Medicaid and CHIP coverage and how partners in the private and public sector can help keep people covered.