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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

Sep 21, 2023 - Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) simplifying processes for eligible individuals to enroll and retain eligibility in the Medicare Savings Programs. This final rule better aligns enrollment into the MSPs with requirements and processes for other public programs and reduces the complexity of applications and re-enrollment for eligible individuals. These regulations are effective November 17, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 20, 2023 - Describes the role of navigators tasked with helping guide people through health insurance enrollment, particularly during the Medicaid unwinding process. Notes that disenrollment could disproportionately impact rural residents who already disproportionately experience barriers to care. Navigators are more likely to be located in urban areas or cover large regions. States that other methods for receiving assistance have proven unreliable. Discusses data gathering techniques that make it challenging to understand rural and urban differences.
Source: KFF Health News, USA Today
Sep 12, 2023 - Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) correcting the effective date of a new computer matching program outlined in the August 29, 2022, notice. The computer matching program will begin October 15, 2023, and conclude April 14, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 11, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), titled "Verification of Eligibility for Minimum Essential Coverage Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Through a Veterans Health Administration Plan." The purpose of the matching program is to provide CMS with VHA data to determine individuals' eligibility for financial assistance in paying for private health insurance coverage. Comments are due by October 11, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 6, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the re-establishment of a matching program between CMS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) titled "Verification of United States Citizenship and Immigration Status Data for Eligibility Determinations." The purpose of the matching program is to provide CMS with USCIS data to determine individuals' eligibility for initial enrollment in a Qualified Health Plan through an Exchange established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, for Insurance Affordability Programs (IAPs), for certificates of exemption from the shared responsibility payment, and redeterminations and renewal decisions. Comments are due by October 6, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 23, 2023 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comment on the following information collections: 1) Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance); and 2) National Implementation of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey. Comments are due by October 23, 2023.
Source: Federal Register