Long Term Care and Dual Eligibles: Overview and Managed Care Opportunities The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a fact sheet explaining the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements under the national health care reform law, noting that MOE requirements are designed to keep coverage stable until the 2014 expansion.  The brief offers guidance for state policymakers on meeting obligations under the MOE requirements.  In addition, the authors explain that states facing a budget deficit may reduce eligibility for non-disabled adults earning over 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). 

From the report:

To fulfill Medicaid’s statutory purpose of providing medical assistance to certain individuals, states that elect to participate in the program are required to cover core groups of low‐income individuals up to minimum income levels. These core groups include pregnant women, children, parents, elderly individuals, and individuals with disabilities. States can choose to extend eligibility for core groups above federal minimum levels and receive federal matching funds, and a new option in the ACA allows states to extend coverage to non-disabled adults. States also have broad discretion to determine enrollment and renewal procedures, which have a substantial impact on enrollment. States can opt to cover low-income uninsured children who are not eligible for Medicaid through separate CHIP programs, Medicaid programs, or both.

Full report: Understanding The Medicaid And CHIP Maintenance of Eligibility Requirements (PDF | 559.59 KB)

Kaiser Family Foundation.  (2011).  Understanding the Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of eligibility requirements.