Trends in Medicaid Enrollment and Disenrollment During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Wisconsin

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Abstract
Since the federal declaration of the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the US in March 2020, enrollment in Medicaid has increased 16% nationally,1 an increase of more than 11 million individuals.2 Enrollment growth occurred in every state, ranging from 10% to 31%.3 Although new enrollment and disenrollment is a normal feature of Medicaid enrollment dynamics, the public health emergency brought a key change to Medicaid policy: maintenance of eligibility (MOE) provisions authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act.4 Specifically, the act increased the federal share of Medicaid funding to states by 6.2% through the end of the month that the public health emergency expires, providing that states maintain continuous coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries—unless the beneficiary requests voluntary termination, is no longer a resident, or dies.5 All states participated. Consequently, since March 18, 2020, Medicaid members have not been subject to eligibility redetermination or disenrollment regardless of whether circumstances might normally have rendered them ineligible. Beneficiaries would normally be required to complete eligibility renewals, report changes in income and other circumstances, and otherwise respond to requests for eligibility-related information when the Medicaid agency identifies a need.

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