Dive Brief:
- Nationwide, about 2.9 million people have signed up for Medicaid coverage but haven't been enrolled because the program hasn't processed their applications yet. The delays are due to technical glitches in exchange websites and a surge in Medicaid applications.
- California, Illinois and North Carolina have the longest backlogs, with nearly 1.5 million people in those three states still waiting for application processing. In all, 41 states responded to the survey.
- People in states using federally-facilitated exchanges are also facing delays. Several states, including Maine and Michigan, still can't obtain applications from the federal HealthCare.gov website.
Dive Insight:
CMS said that it is working to help states process applications, and alternative options are available in an effort to get it done. States are supposed to process Medicaid applications within 45 days, but many aren't doing so.
Medicaid benefits are retroactive for people getting care while waiting to be enrolled, but CQ Roll Call reports that some are being prevented from getting benefits that they're legally entitled to receive. It becomes problematic if those people facing delays put off getting care, not only because it may adversely affect health outcomes, but also because providers may confront what should be an avoidable array of technical issues related to their coverage.
