Issue Briefs | Nov 30, 2022

Collection of Race, Ethnicity, Language (REL) Data on Medicaid Applications: New and Updated Information on Medicaid Data Collection Practices in the States, Territories, and District of Columbia

SHADAC

All state Medicaid agencies and most U.S. territories collect self-reported data on race, ethnicity, and language (REL) from applicants during the eligibility and enrollment process. However, the type and granularity of information collected varies considerably, and many states continue to face longstanding and persistent challenges in collecting complete, accurate, and consistent data on REL.

This issue brief documents how REL data are collected by the Medicaid programs in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. This serves as an update to SHADAC’s previous brief, providing up-to-date information on Medicaid REL data collection among the states and extending the analysis to include the District of Columbia and the five territories.


Expert Perspectives

April 12, 2024

The Final 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: Implications for States

On April 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025, the annual rule which governs core provisions of the Affordable Care Act. This expert perspective focuses on provisions of the final rule of interest to state officials, including requirements for State-Based Marketplaces to adhere to standards that align more with the Federally Facilitated Marketplace, improvements to the processes for states to determine and update essential health benefits, and initiatives designed to streamline the eligibility and enrollment process for consumers.