CMS released guidance on the American Rescue Plan’s requirement that state Medicaid and CHIP programs cover COVID-19-related treatments without cost-sharing. Beginning Mar 11, 2021, state Medicaid programs are required to cover treatments for COVID-19, including specialized equipment and therapies, preventive treatments and treatments for “long COVID-19.” States must also cover the treatment of conditions, without cost sharing, that may seriously complicate the treatment of COVID-19 (like cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, and cancer) if these services are already included in the state plan or a waiver.
To ensure that all state plans reflect the statutory requirements, states must submit a Medicaid state plan amendment attesting to coverage of these treatments without cost-sharing.