Lessons Learned From Medicaid Unwinding as States Tackle Eligibility Checks
AJMC November 7, 2024
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment surged from 71 million in February 2020 to 94 million by April 2023. However, with the pandemic emergency ending in May 2023, states resumed eligibility reviews, initiating a process termed “unwinding.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress temporarily suspended eligibility checks for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), ensuring uninterrupted access to health care for millions of Americans.1 As a result, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment surged from 71 million in February 2020 to 94 million by April 2023. However, with the pandemic emergency ending in May 2023, states resumed eligibility reviews, initiating a process termed “unwinding.” An article published in JAMA Forum offers a large-scale reevaluation with important insights into the challenges and disparities embedded...