Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter |
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Indiana Coverage Rates Improved During Pandemic
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates for 2021 found that estimated number and rate of uninsured children and the overall uninsured rate went down nationally from 2019 to 2021. Although relatively small, the rate change from 5.7% uninsured to 5.4% signifies approximately 210,000 more insured children. The overall uninsured rate improved from 9.2% to 8.6%, representing approximately 1,400,000 more total individuals insured nationwide.
Specifically looking at the child insured rate, an analysis by the Georgetown Center for Children and Families (CCF) found that pandemic era provisions limiting churn and allowing for continuous coverage were contributing factors in decreasing children's uninsured rates. CCF noted children in low-wage working families with annual incomes between $30,305 and $54,900 saw the biggest reductions in uninsured rates. Data further showed that American Indian and Alaska Native children experienced the largest decline in the uninsured rate of any racial group, with white children and Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children also seeing statistically significant declines. The uninsured rate for children of another race or multiple races increased in 2021, however, and black children showed no improvement in coverage rates. Uninsured rates for both Hispanic/Latino children fell, although the uninsured rate for Hispanic children is still more than twice that of non-Hispanic children.
Indiana was noted by CCF as one of the most improved states nationally, along with Oklahoma, Connecticut, Colorado and Texas. The estimate of uninsured children in Indiana dropped from 119,000 to 100,000 approaching one of our best rates historically. Although our rate of uninsured children dropped significantly from 7.1% in 2019 to 6.0% in 2021, the Hoosier state is still underperforming against the national average. The overall uninsured rate in Indiana also improved, dropping to 7.5% from 8.7% for a gain of approximately 74,000 more insured Hoosiers and placing the state ahead of the national average. If protections are not put in place following the end of the federal Public Health Emergency, however, many states like Indiana could see the rate of uninsured children and adults rise dramatically.
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Marketplace Enrollment Shows Gains
Enrollment numbers for the Healthcare.gov Marketplace through week 5 of open enrollment show positive trends for signups in year-to-year comparisons. National Marketplace enrollment climbed to 4,862,944 by early December 2022, compared to 3,946,945 at the same point in 2021.
Indiana also showed significant gains during the same period with 62,733 enrollments so far, compared to 51,410 at this point a year prior. This represent a gain of approximately 22% if this pace continues through the remainder of open enrollment. The only area with a decrease was among returning customers of state-based exchanges, which was down approximately 35,000 in total.
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Medicaid Advisory Committee Update
Indiana Family & Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) met on November 30th and shared several items of interest to IDOI Navigators:
- Since FSSA did not receive a 60 day notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a January 2023 end to the federal public health emergency (PHE), they anticipate the next potential notification date to be in February 2023 for a possible April PHE end date. If the PHE ends in April, the first possible disenrollments could be in May.
- When the federal PHE ends, individuals who have Medicaid because of the PHE (FSSA believes they no longer meet guidelines or were unable to complete their redetermination), will be reassessed no sooner than their next scheduled annual redetermination date. For example, if their redetermination is normally in May and the PHE ends in April 2023, they will need to meet regular eligibility guidelines and complete the redetermination process in May to retain coverage. If someone’s redetermination is usually in March and the PHE ends in April 2023, they will not need to complete the redetermination process until March 2024 and will continue to retain their coverage until then. FSSA will process approximately 1/12 of this group each month. Individuals in this group cannot be closed or moved to a lesser-coverage category before their full redetermination process is completed. This is expected to impact about 500,000 Hoosiers.
- Cost sharing will resume for the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) no sooner than the first calendar quarter after the PHE ends. For example, if the PHE ends in April 2023, the soonest cost sharing would restart would be in July 2023.
- HIP members over 100% federal poverty level (FPL) who do not make cost-sharing (POWER account) payments will have 90 days after their HIP coverage ends to reinstate their coverage without reapplying. The coverage will not be retroactive. Also, they will no longer be locked out of reapplying for HIP for six months. This was a CMS requirement of the waiver Indiana received. Please note: information on a HIP lock out period has not been updated yet in the Indiana Health Coverage Program Policy Manual.
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Marketplace Family Glitch Fixed
A new rule finalized in October changed the rules that determine if employer sponsored insurance is considered affordable for the spouse and the dependents of an employee. These changes will result in more people being eligible for Marketplace premium tax credits. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Beyond the Basics released an FAQ covering important information and potential questions for navigators.
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News from the Indiana School Health Network |
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ISHN Conference Exhibitor Opportunity
The Indiana School Health Network and its lead agency, Covering Kids & Families of Indiana, invite you to join us for the 15th Annual School Health Conference as an exhibitor. If you've exhibited with us in the past, we hope to see you again!
Since 2008, the Indiana School Health Network (ISHN) has been connecting the pieces in school health annually by assembling key stakeholders, thought leaders and subject matter experts. This conference provides people who are passionate about school health with an opportunity to expand their knowledge, increase their skills, and collaborate with others who truly want to make a positive impact on school health in Indiana.
The ISHN conference is attended by over 500 school professionals, including educators, school nurses, social workers, school administrators, public health nurses, managed care professionals, federally qualified health center and school based health center leadership, providers and school health experts from across the region.
Exhibitors provide attendees with valuable information and resources, and their organizations have the opportunity to raise awareness, connect to and collaborate with conference attendees.
Deadline to Register as an Exhibitor is May 1, 2023
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ISHN Conference Call for Proposals
The Indiana School Health Network (ISHN) is inviting school health professionals and advocates to submit proposals to present a session at the 2023 Indiana School Health Network Conference on June 14-15, 2023. The conference will be in person and will be held at the Embassy Suites Plainfield Hotel. This year's theme is "School Health: Connecting the Pieces."
All sessions are 60 minutes long, including Q&A and evaluation. Proposals will be selected based on the speaker's knowledge and expertise on the subject. Proposals of interest include but are not limited to the following:
- Policies, practices, or programs that promote cross-sector collaboration
- Managing health & behavioral health conditions that affect educational achievement, especially proposals on chronic diseases, suicide and substance use disorder
- Role of school-based health centers in school health
- Emerging trends in early childhood education and health
- Promising practices advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Neuroscience-based tools to transform challenging childhood behaviors
- Care of children with special health care needs in school
- Best practices addressing ethics and boundaries
- Policies and legislation that advance school health outcomes for all students
- Effective Navigator outreach and enrollment practices for healthcare coverage
- Innovative Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model implementation
Special consideration will be given to proposals focused on alignment and coordination of services and resources, social justice in education, social-emotional learning and social influencers of health and education.
Deadline for submission is January 13, 2023
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Tobacco Impact by County
The Indiana Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program offers contact information and data for every county in Indiana. The data includes tobacco usage, cardiovascular disease deaths, asthma related emergency room visits, smoking and pregnancy, smoking deaths, and the economic burden of secondhand smoke.
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Advocacy 101: The Rules
Hosted by Prosperity Indiana and led by Bolder Advocacy, this webinar will give you an understanding of the kinds of advocacy activities nonprofits can engage in and how to maximize advocacy efforts.
December 13th at 10:00am
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Health During and After Incarceration
Hosted by the NIHCM Foundation, experts discuss incarcerated people’s health challenges, how mass incarceration is a health determinant and the role of Medicaid and policy proposals to increase coverage during reentry.
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Online & On-Demand Navigator Pre-Certification & Continuing Education Courses
Covering Kids & Families of Indiana invites you to view our online and on-demand Navigator Pre-Certification & Continuing Education Courses. Each course is approved by the Indiana Department of Insurance. The Pre-Certification Course is for those hoping to become a certified Indiana Navigator, and the Continuing Education Course is for current Indiana Navigators. There is no charge for these courses.
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Enrollment Trends
Total Membership increased again in September. With 2,129,817 members, there were 16,158, or 0.76%, more members in October 2022 than in September 2022. October was the ninth month in a row where Total Membership was over 2 million.
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