The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) informed states that it does not anticipate approving new or existing Section 1115 Demonstrations that expand continuous eligibility or test workforce initiatives.
Under federal regulations, states generally must redetermine a beneficiary’s eligibility once every 12 months. Using Section 1115 waivers, states were allowed to expand continuous eligibility – increasing the length of time that individuals could stay enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, instead of proving their eligibility annually. States also used these waivers to test initiatives to expand the health workforce, such as student loan repayment and workforce training programs to recruit and retain providers, through the Medicaid program.
States with currently approved Section 1115 waivers for expanded continuous eligibility must notify beneficiaries about any changes to their current period of continuous eligibility and when the beneficiary will need to undergo their next redetermination. CMS will allow currently approved workforce initiatives in California, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Vermont to run their course.