Nearly 190 organizations signed a letter urging legislators to pass the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act.
Seven notes for dental leaders:
1. Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries often lose coverage due to short-term changes in income or administrative requirements.
2. The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act would protect adult beneficiaries from losing coverage as a result of short-term income changes and ensure beneficiaries are covered for a continuous 12-month period. The bill also provides incentives for states to reduce turnover within the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
3. Twelve-month continuous eligibility was already enacted for all children under Medicaid and CHIP through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
4. The letter pointed to new research that found households would save $1 billion in
healthcare-related costs if 12-month continuous eligibility were enacted for adults.
5. This continuous eligibility could also relieve burdens on providers and health plans by maintaining continuity of care.
6. National and state organizations signed the letter, including those representing consumers, providers, advocates and health plans.
7. Dental and oral health organizations that signed the bill include the Carequest Institute for Oral Health, the National Association of Dental Plans, the New Jersey Oral Health Coalition, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health and Dientes Community Dental Care in California.