MHPA Research Links MCO Waivers to Lower Medicaid Enrollment Declines
Medicaid Health Plans of America released a report, "The Waiver Effect: An Exploratory Analysis of Medicaid Enrollment Trends in the Presence of Waivers," comparing enrollment trends in states that adopted two managed care-specific waivers against those that did not. The analysis found states using the Managed Care Auto-Enrollment waiver and the MCO Beneficiary Contact Update waiver saw smaller net declines in Medicaid enrollment, with the largest effect among states adopting both. MHPA, an industry trade association representing Medicaid managed care plans, frames the findings as evidence that MCO engagement helps reduce procedural coverage losses tied to administrative hurdles rather than eligibility changes. The group credits CMS for making the waivers available and calls for continued state and federal collaboration with MCOs.