Medcaid Awareness Month - April 2024

In observance of Medicaid Awareness Month this April 2024, we take a closer look at the current state of Medicaid throughout the United States, and address recent developments or challenges with Medicaid.

Medicaid is arguably one of the most important American healthcare programs. Up until today, it provides comprehensive health insurance coverage for 20 percent of low-income Americans. In the last ten years, however, Disenrollment has been the major problem; 16.2 Medicaid Beneficiaries were taken off from April 2023 to January 2024 because of the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. This usually took place in cases of disagreement at times because of procedural issues and sometimes paper-based problems. A rise in this number of uninsured shows concern for some of America's most vulnerable people. Medicaid Expansion, State by State: Efforts to expand Medicaid coverage by the adoption of the Affordable Care Act have continued. Most recently, Medicaid expansion has gone into place in South Dakota and North Carolina toward the latter of 2023, while several other states have joined in. However, 10 states have not taken up the expansion, leaving nearly 1.5 million uninsured individuals with a coverage gap.

Medicaid lately has played a role in the Social determinants of health. Different states have passed Medicaid waivers to address housing instability, insecurity in nutrition, and help in re-entry into communities of formerly incarcerated individuals. Medicaid has taken on growing roles that include addressing SDOH, and facilitating re-entry for those transitioning from incarceration.

Several states have implemented Medicaid waivers that address housing instability, nutrition insecurity, and support community re-entry programs for people leaving incarceration. Those investments in health underscore the importance of holistic approaches to healthcare beyond just medical interventions. In addition, workforce shortages in LTSS and behavioral health sectors of Medicaid remain an important issue to combat. Despite efforts to increase workforce capacity, however, issues with recruitment and retention of employees continue to prevail. On a rather positive note, recently CMS announced the extension of the unwinding Special enrollment period until November 30, 2024. This extension would help those individuals transitioning away from Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Programs by helping to minimize any gaps in coverage.

As we celebrate Medicaid Awareness Month, it will be important to seize the moment and advocate for an improved existing Medicaid system. Advocacy must be in place for Medicaid expansion initiatives across different states, such as South Dakota and South Carolina, to show the benefits of increasing health care access to people with low incomes.

We can also highlight Medicaid's contribution to fighting the Social Determinants of Health, such as housing instability. Besides, there is a great need to also advocate for increased investment in the workforce development for LTSS and behavioral health sectors of Medicaid. It is also important that one advocates for an increased investment in LTSS and behavioral health sectors' workforce development programs for a skilled healthcare workforce. This will be further reinforced through education to the communities on the state fiscal conditions' impact on Medicaid financing and the sharing of Medicaid stories to engage the people. During this Medicaid Awareness Month, people in communities can come together to advance stakeholder-driven meaningful reforms in making Medicaid an effective health coverage for all Americans.