Feb. 25—A majority of states anticipate meeting Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements to streamline eligibility and enrollment procedures, application forms, and data sharing and matching for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and health insurance marketplaces by 2014, according to a federal report.

Based on a survey of 45 states last April, at least 40 anticipate having streamlined application forms by Jan. 1, 2014; 38, streamlined eligibility and enrollment systems; and 37, data sharing and matching, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG). 

States reported needing more guidance and information on the HHS application form, federal data services hub, and modified adjusted gross income requirements. The three main challenges states anticipate facing in meeting ACA requirements are difficulty meeting the target date, outdated eligibility and enrollment systems, and lack of funds for streamlining systems.

The OIG recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continue providing guidance to states on ways to meet ACA requirements.

Publication Date: Monday, February 25, 2013