Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

 

 

April 5, 2013

Legislative Update
HHS Finalizes Rule on Medicaid Expansion

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on March 29 released a final rule on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion to people with incomes of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries through 2016, in states that expand Medicaid eligibility. From 2017 until 2020, it will move toward a permanent 90 percent matching rate. The final rule also describes the method states will use to claim the matching rate. Illinois has stated that it will be expanding Medicaid.

The final rule is effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. HHS also asked for comments on parts of the final rule. Those comments are due 60 days after the rule’s publication in the Federal Register.

Additionally, HHS also released a brief Q&A on Medicaid and premium assistance describing alternative approaches to covering the Medicaid population through qualified health plans in the Exchange, also known as a health insurance marketplace.

 
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A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company,
an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.