The Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a public meeting October 24–25, in which the commission discussed ways the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and states are preparing for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). MACPAC is a nonpartisan legislative branch agency that provides policy and data analysis and makes recommendations to Congress, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the states.
The commission discussed CMS and state preparations to monitor the unwinding of the provisions for continuous Medicaid coverage once the PHE ends. The Commissioners shared their concerns over inappropriate loss of coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries, and the conversation focused on available data to monitor the unwinding. Commissioners expressed the importance of data transparency; MACPAC will work with states to mitigate any data reporting and processing issues.
During the meeting, the commission also discussed CMS’ request for information on ways to promote efficiency and equity in the agency’s programs. CMS seeks stakeholder feedback in four areas, including access to healthcare services, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and the impact of PHE waivers and flexibilities.
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