The NDNRC is continuing to review the finalized rules of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released finalized rules last week that will directly affect people who are hard-of-hearing or those who are deaf that utilize sign language interpreters in healthcare settings, as this new rule will expand services for those who require interpreters.
NHeLP hosted a webinar that focused on the finalized rules for the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025 that had many changes for Essential Health Benefits. This webinar summarized these rules and changes related to dental services, new state coverage mandates, and more. The slides for this webinar can be found here.
The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) released an explainer for the final Medicaid Managed Care rule and discussed changes. These changes related to access to services in managed care, state direct payments, medical loss ratio standards, in lieu of services and setting, and quality assessment and improvement.
The CHIRblog released commentary on ensuring access to behavioral health providers. Starting in 2026, states will have to have standards in place that would require increased access to these providers.
CMS released a statement reiterating their commitment to protecting consumers in the Marketplace in relation to fraudulent agent and broker activities. Those who believe they have had unauthorized agent or broker activities with their Marketplace enrollment should call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
The Commonwealth Fund covered how the new HHS eligibility determination rules can help adults and children enroll and be able to stay enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program). This article also covered key changes that would help address enrollment issues in the Medicaid unwinding.
As of May 3, states have reported renewal outcomes for more than half of those enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) with 27.5 million renewals still remaining. 22% of those who completed the renewal process were disenrolled and 45.6 million enrollees were able to qualify for renewed coverage. The large range of disenrollment rates in each state varies, with the highest of 56% being in Utah and the lowest of 12% in Maine. Out of all states with available data, 70% of all those disenrolled were due to procedural reasons.
CCF reviewed a report that focused on child health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP. This report found that many states observed very little change in enrollment in children being enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! CMS has updated its Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder content. These behavioral strategies have focused outcomes in areas such as substance use disorder prevention, recovery, and services, effective pain treatment and managed care, and improving mental health services.
Review our latest factsheet on specific information on the availability of special enrollment periods, which are qualifying events that allow individuals to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage outside of the open enrollment period, for people with disabilities and unique circumstances that they may face.
This factsheet is especially important, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new provisions due to the unwinding of Medicaid. See if you qualify for an ACA Marketplace plan at HealthCare.Gov and get covered today!
Make sure to nominate yourself or a deserving colleague for one of the annual American Public Health Association’s Disability Section Awards. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 31 at 11:59 PM PT.
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