One in four Americans rely on Medicaid to gain access to care. With that, Lindsey Browning with the National Association of Medicaid Directors opened the State Medicaid Programs: What State Policymakers Need to Know session during the 2021 National Conference.

Browning explained the role of Medicaid and provided uncertainties facing the program, including the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. The uncertainty surrounding the official end of the pandemic will end might cause some Americans to be removed from receiving Medicaid coverage.

Jamie Snyder of Arizona’s Cost Containment System echoed these concerns. However, Snyder did mention labor market issues facing Arizona due to the aging and retiring workforce there.

Suzanne Bierman of the Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, highlighted the impacts of funding as Covid levels out. She pointed to the 7.4% increase of Medicaid recipients in fiscal year 2021-22.

“In New Mexico, we have the highest percentage of residents enrolled in Medicaid. There are about 2 million people in New Mexico, we cover about 958,000 of them,” Nicole Comeaux with New Mexico Centennial Care said.

Comeaux discussed rural areas and the impact of care on Native populations.

The panel discussed the differences in rural and frontier populations and the definitions of both. This led to understanding delivery of care for these populations.

“We reimburse for equine transport,” Snyder said, speaking to the need to access some populations that are not always able to come to a doctor’s office.

The panel took questions from the audience. Several people asked about redetermination statuses and how to eliminate people from falling through the cracks in the system.

“For all of us, its really critical as we work through redetermination process to redirect to other options,” Snyder said.

The panelists pointed to the concern of a labor force accepting jobs that offer more money for less work, but do not offer employer benefits like insurance.

The conversation continues with the session State Medicaid Waivers, discussing Medicaid waiver processes and impacts.

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