Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter |
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Marketplace Unauthorized Access and
Plan-Switching
Hoosiers and others across the country enrolled in a federal Marketplace plan have found their plans are being switched without their knowledge. A licensed broker can access an account with just a person's name, birthday, and state of residence. The enrollment system inadvertently allowed access to consumers’ full Social Security numbers that raised concerns about the potential for misuse.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirms the federal site and direct enrollment partner platforms now mask the first six digits of the member’s Social Security Number (SSN). A written statement from Jeff Wu, acting director of the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight at CMS said, “Upon learning of this system vulnerability, CMS took immediate action to reach out to the direct enrollment platform where vulnerability was identified to make sure it was addressed”. He added that the SSNs were not accessible through routine use of the platform but were in a portion of the site called developer tools. “This issue does not impact healthcare.gov,” Wu wrote.
While consumers can enroll on their own, many turn to agents for assistance. There are about 70,000 licensed agents nationwide certified to use the healthcare.gov site or its partner enrollment platforms. Agents describe a sharp increase in early 2024 of “rivals switching people from one plan to another, or at least switching the “agent of record” on the accounts” which directs the commission to the new agent. Wu’s statements have so far not included requested information on the number of complaints about unauthorized switching, or the number of agents who have been sanctioned as a result.
The changes shielding the full Social Security Number is crucial to privacy concerns, but that change will not necessarily slow unauthorized switching of plans. Corrupt agents can still switch an enrollee’s plan with simply their name, date of birth, and state of residence, despite rules that require agents to collect written or recorded consent from consumers before making any changes.
KFF Health News is a national health policy news service that originally brought attention to this story on April 2 (available here) with a follow-up piece on April 8 here.
Susan Jo Thomas, CKF-IN Executive Director asks, “Please assist and encourage consumers to file a complaint with Healthcare.gov. It is crucial that Hoosiers who believe they may have been targeted or affected contact the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) immediately to file a complaint. Most may not have the broker’s name or license number, but IDOI is best positioned to begin the investigation and resolve the resulting problems."
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Waitlist for Aged and Disabled Waiver
Indiana's Family and Social Services Association (FSSA) made a significant policy change to the Aged and Disabled (A&D) Waiver, now implementing a waitlist. This is part of the sustainability strategies FSSA has outlined to overcome a $900 million State Budget Agency forecasting error. FSSA estimates that changes to the Aged and Disabled (A&D) waiver will result in $300 million in state savings.
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Updates to Foods Provided Through WIC
USDA's Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) finalized updates to what foods are prescribed and available through Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. Some changes include:
- Expanding whole grain options to include foods like quinoa, blue cornmeal, and teff to reflect dietary guidance and accommodate individual or cultural preferences.
- Providing more convenience and options within the dairy category, including flexibility on package sizes and non-dairy substitution options such as plant-based yogurts and cheeses and requiring lactose-free milk to be available.
- Including canned fish in more food packages, creating more equitable access to this under-consumed food.
- Requiring canned beans to be offered in addition to dried.
- Adding more flexibility in the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed infants to support moms’ individual breastfeeding goals.
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NEWS FROM THE INDIANA SCHOOL HEALTH NETWORK |
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Registration for the Indiana School Health Network Conference is Open!
Covering Kids & Families of Indiana is excited to announce the Indiana School Health Network Conference will be FREE to attend this year. The conference will be held on June 4-5, 2024 at the Embassy Suites in Plainfield. In addition to no cost, pre-conference sessions have been added for June 3rd. Up to 14 free continuing education credits will be offered for nursing, social work, certified health education specialists (CHES), and library professionals. General certificates of attendance will also be provided.
The Seeds of Hope: Growing a Strong Future for Hoosier Kids conference will encourage discussions and initiatives that highlight innovative approaches, community involvement, policy changes, and evolving opportunities. Keynotes include sessions on trauma-informed nutrition security, school-based Medicaid reimbursement, Indiana’s behavioral health strategic plan, and school culture and belonging.
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News from FSSA
The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) recently shared important information to their return to normal website including:
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A reference guide for members and third parties on how to pay POWER Account contributions, MEDWorks premiums, and CHIP aka Hoosier Healthwise Package C premiums starting this July.
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Additional section in the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about restarting contributions/payments. NOTE: FAQs regarding CHIP premiums do not reflect new rules from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The final rule was published 04/02/2024 and will go into effect on 06/03/24.
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Members can now check their account on www.fssabenefits.in.gov for personalized information on contributions and premiums.
- FSSA is replicating the unwinding outreach strategy to inform members, providers, and stakeholders on the resuming of contributions and premiums.
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Outreach and marketing materials will be posted on the return to normal website, Currently available is the eligibility notice that was sent out in February.
You can find the recorded April stakeholder meeting here: Stakeholder Meeting. Please note, the title states Feb. 2024, but the recording is of the April meeting.
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Medicaid Renewals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released ten detailed examples of policies and processes states are not allowed to utilize during the Medicaid and CHIP renewal processes. Here are some examples:
- States are not allowed to terminate Medicaid coverage if an individual returned required paperwork within the eligibility period, even if processing the renewal forms and documents will need to occur after the eligibility period ends.
- States are not allowed to require a new application from individuals who are eligible on the basis of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and who respond to a renewal request within 90 days after a procedural termination.
- States must provide no fewer than 30 days for the response to a renewal form for individuals whose eligibility is based on MAGI.
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Marketplace News
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the Marketplace unwinding Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to November 30, 2024. Marketplace eligible consumers who have been disenrolled from Medicaid have 60 days after they submit or update their application to select a Marketplace plan with coverage that starts the first day of the month after they select a plan.
After November 30, 2024, consumers who lose Medicaid coverage will have 90 days (instead of 60) to enroll in a Marketplace plan.
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Legal Assistance for Veterans
Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal advice and legal representation to eligible low-income Hoosier military members, veterans, and their dependents. The Military Assistance Project is just one of the many important services provided by Indiana Legal Services including assisting eligible Hoosiers with Medicaid appeals.
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Joint Project Examines Bones to Identify Long-Term Effects of Lead Poisoning
A collaborative project between Purdue University, NAACP Indianapolis, and Marion County Public Health Department is looking at children’s bones for signs of previous exposure to lead. The project uses a specialized X-ray device which can identify lead in a child’s bones. While the half-life of lead in blood is about 1 month, lead persists in bone tissue much longer. The half-life of lead in bone is 25-30 years. While a blood lead test can determine elevated lead levels from recent exposure to lead, looking at bone can provide information on long term exposure in a child. By looking at the impact of long-term exposure to lead, Indiana can develop resources to support families and children.
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Immigrant Coverage
Families USA is hosting a Medicaid Coalition meeting with a presentation on April 18, 2024 at 2pm ET on a recent survey of immigrant families with Medicaid coverage.
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IHCP Enrollment
Total membership decreased in February. With 1,999,022 members, there were 8,783, or -0.44%, fewer members in February 2024 than in January 2024.
February 2024 marks the first time since January 2022 that the total membership fell below 2 million individuals.
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© 2023 Covering Kids & Families of Indiana | All Rights Reserved |
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