HHS Pressures States as Millions of Children Lose Medicaid

The Biden administration called on Florida, Texas, and seven other states to take additional action to prevent eligible children from losing health coverage as Medicaid programs navigate the return of income eligibility checks that had been paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter sent Monday to governors of the nine states, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra pressed governors to remove discretionary barriers that impede access to children’s health coverage.

At the same time, the administration also announced that it will be extending all of its beneficiary-focused flexibilities, like automatic renewals, until the end of 2024.

The moves ...