Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Thursday, July 26, 2001 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
For questions about Medicare please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
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CMS GUIDE WILL HELP STATES ENROLL MORE FAMILIES IN MEDICAID
States will have a new resource for sharing their Medicaid program success stories with the publication of a new guidebook that represents two years of collaboration between the federal government and state lawmakers. The new guidebook, produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and announced today by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, will help more families become enrolled and stay enrolled in Medicaid programs across the nation.
The guide, "Continuing the Progress: Enrolling and Retaining Low-Income Families and Children in Health Care Coverage" was developed after a survey of eligibility policies and application procedures in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories. During the two years of the survey, CMS officials discovered many successful practices that make Medicaid more accessible to eligible families. The survey also discovered that some states misunderstood what federal law requires and allows. This guidebook will help all states assure that their policies are consistent with federal rules.
"When I was governor, I never hesitated to export Wisconsin's successes and to import those of other states," Secretary Thompson said. "By adapting the best ideas from other states to meet local needs, states can make it simpler and quicker for eligible families to enroll in Medicaid and get needed health coverage. This guidebook is full of such proven strategies that will help governors and state legislators strengthen their Medicaid programs."
Successful state practices highlighted in the guide include coordinating Medicaid enrollment with the school lunch program, greater use of community-based organizations to reach working parents, and outreach to the general community. There are also guidelines to design one-stop shopping for public benefits and simply making it easier for migrant workers, immigrants and other families to apply for Medicaid.
The guide also explains how states can implement federal policy options that allow families with two working parents to be eligible for Medicaid or that allow presumptive eligibility to children and pregnant women so that they can get on-the-spot Medicaid benefits.
"This guidebook reflects our commitment to helping states improve their Medicaid programs to better serve their residents," said Thomas A. Scully, CMS administrator. "We are highlighting what works so that other states can take advantage of effective approaches."
The guidebook can be found on the Internet at www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/wrefhmpg.htm.
Medicaid is a joint state/federal partnership to provide health care to certain low-income groups, primarily poor children, the elderly and the disabled. Some 41.4 million Americans benefit from the program each year.
