80% of Nevadans Lost Medicaid Benefits due to Procedural Causes, According to New Data
New data suggests that a significant number of people in Nevada have lost their Medicaid benefits due to procedural causes, such as outdated contact information or difficulties understanding and completing paperwork. The findings, compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), reveal that Nevada’s rate of procedural disenrollment is higher than the national average.
Out of all the states that provided data, 74% of people were disenrolled from Medicaid for procedural reasons. Since the process of removing individuals from Medicaid began in the spring, approximately 1.5 million Americans, including around 60,000 Nevadans, have lost their health insurance.
However, the numbers alone do not reveal the complete story, according to Kristle Muessle, the public information officer at the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Muessle explained that the calculation of procedural disenrollment only takes into account denials and not the renewals that were approved or pending. When considering the number of completed renewals, Nevada’s disenrollment rate for procedural reasons drops to 46%. Nevertheless, this still represents tens of thousands of Nevadans who have lost their coverage due to bureaucratic hurdles.
As of June, 47,769 people had been disenrolled from Medicaid in Nevada for procedural reasons, while only 12,253 people were deemed ineligible, according to KFF. Disenrollment rates vary across states, ranging from 82% in Texas to a mere 8% in Wyoming.
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide healthcare coverage to nearly one-third of all Nevadans. This number significantly increased during the pandemic, with approximately 200,000 people becoming enrolled in Medicaid. Unfortunately, many of these individuals are now at risk of losing their coverage. KFF estimates that around 60,022 people in Nevada have already lost their health insurance.
Certain groups, such as older adults, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency, are particularly vulnerable to losing Medicaid coverage or experiencing gaps in coverage due to barriers in the enrollment process.
In response to these challenges, multiple state agencies in Nevada are working together to reach out to individuals through various communication channels, including mail, email, text messaging, and even door-to-door visits. The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) has dedicated outreach staff located in at-risk communities to assist those who may lose their healthcare.
In March 2020, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which required Medicaid programs to keep individuals continuously enrolled until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. However, in December of that same year, Congress removed the continuous enrollment provision, which expired on March 31.
DWSS initiated the renewal process in April, and it typically takes 2-3 months to determine a renewal. Individuals in Nevada who did not respond to the renewal or no longer qualify for Medicaid based on income began losing their benefits on June 1. However, they may still qualify for tax credits or subsidies through Nevada Health Link.
With so many individuals at risk of losing their healthcare coverage, it is crucial to address the procedural challenges that exist within the Medicaid system. By streamlining the process and making it more accessible and user-friendly, it is possible to ensure that individuals who are eligible for Medicaid can receive the necessary coverage without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
It is essential to protect the healthcare safety net, especially for vulnerable populations who rely on programs like Medicaid. The focus should be on providing comprehensive support and guidance to individuals throughout the enrollment and renewal processes, ultimately reducing the number of individuals who lose their benefits due to procedural reasons.
