Templates & Toolkits | May 11, 2021

Medicaid and CHIP Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment: A Roadmap for State Action During and After the Public Health Emergency

Julian Polaris, Manatt Health

Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has required states to cover COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for certain eligibility groups under Medicaid and CHIP. Congress significantly enhanced those coverage requirements with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021. This toolkit provides a roadmap for states to identify the types of Medicaid and CHIP policy changes that may be needed to ensure compliance with ARP’s requirements for coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. It has been updated to reflect the May 5, 2021 version of CMS’s Medicaid COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit.


Expert Perspectives

April 12, 2024

The Final 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: Implications for States

On April 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025, the annual rule which governs core provisions of the Affordable Care Act. This expert perspective focuses on provisions of the final rule of interest to state officials, including requirements for State-Based Marketplaces to adhere to standards that align more with the Federally Facilitated Marketplace, improvements to the processes for states to determine and update essential health benefits, and initiatives designed to streamline the eligibility and enrollment process for consumers.