CMS Announces $49 Million to Support Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it has committed $49.4 million to fund organizations to connect more eligible children, parents, and pregnant individuals to health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Awardees, including state and local governments, tribal organizations, federal health safety net organizations, non-profits, schools, and others, will receive up to $1.5 million for a three-year period to reduce the number of uninsured children by advancing Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and retention.

The move by CMS supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Funded organizations will provide enrollment and renewal assistance to children and their families, as well as pregnant people which is a new optional target population in this year’s award announcement.

Applicants are encouraged to consider a range of activities, including engaging schools and other programs serving young people, bridging racial and demographic health coverage disparities, establishing and developing application assistance resources, and using parent mentors and community health workers to assist families with enrolling in Medicaid and CHIP, retaining coverage, and addressing social determinants of health.

The Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 (HEALTHY KIDS Act) provided continued funding for outreach and enrollment aimed at reducing the number of children eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2022. Additional information is available here.