The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides enhanced federal matching funds to states as a condition for maintaining Medicaid enrollment until the conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The federal continuous coverage requirements ended on March 31, 2023 and states will need to redetermine eligibility for all Medicaid enrollees, which may result in unintended coverage loss among children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. One study estimates that 6.7 million children could lose Medicaid coverage at the end of the PHE.

As states plan for the end of the PHE and how best to protect coverage for eligible children, they have the opportunity to build off the success of stabilized coverage over the past two years and—going forward—may wish to implement continuous coverage policies to safeguard Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children.

In “Strategies to Ensure Continuous Coverage for Children at the End of the Public Health Emergency,” an issue brief prepared in partnership with the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, Manatt Health reviews the importance of continuity of coverage for all children and highlights state opportunities through state plan amendments and 1115 demonstrations to implement continuous enrollment policies. The issue brief is the first in a three-part series focused on improving access to Medicaid, CHIP and Marketplace coverage at the end of the PHE.

To download the full issue brief, click here.