What is the Biden Administration’s vision for Medicaid? Learn more from Secretary Becerra

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra outlined his vision for the role that his department and the Centers for Medicaid Services will play moving forward in the Biden Administration and what that will mean for state partners, Medicaid members, and the Medicaid stakeholder community.

Here are some highlights from Secretary Becerra’s speech and Q&A:

• Medicaid has a critical role to play in ending the COVID-19 pandemic, lowering overall health care costs, addressing disparities in health care outcomes, and strengthening behavioral health care. NAMD and Medicaid Directors share these priorities. With 82 million Americans currently using Medicaid or CHIP to access the health care they need, the program couldn’t be more critical to success in all the areas the Secretary outlined.
• Secretary Becerra’s vision includes three critical priorities for Medicaid: Making coverage for those in the program and those eligible but not enrolled more equitable, accessible and holistic.

How do we expand coverage and access?

• The administration is focused on improving both Medicaid coverage and access to services for those on the program. For coverage, the administration is seeking to encourage adoption of Medicaid expansion in those states that have not yet taken up that option, and more tactical approaches to getting eligible individuals enrolled in coverage, such as low-income Medicare beneficiaries who can have Medicaid cover their cost-sharing. For access, there is a major emphasis on investments in holistic systems of care, particularly in home and community -based services and behavioral health.

How do we get to more equitable care?

• The department is bringing equity to all its priorities, from expanding home and community-based services to the rollout of pediatric COVID vaccines and prioritizing harm reduction and treatment for individuals with substance use disorder. For example, pregnancy-related mortality for Black mothers is three times higher as compared to White mothers. These disparities persist regardless of education and income level and many of these deaths are preventable. Half of all births are covered by Medicaid, so the impact in this arena through the program has the potential to be significant. Through CMS, four states expanded postpartum coverage, giving new parent critical s Two of these states now offer postpartum coverage up to one year. In September, nearly $350 million in awards went to every state across the nation to support safe pregnancies and healthy babies.
• Medicaid is the linchpin for equity because Medicaid in it of itself advances equity. It is the health insurance that millions rely on to access the services they need to help them live healthier and better lives.

How do we achieve more holistic coverage?

• The department announced $14.2 million from the American Rescue Plan to expand mental health care access that will integrate telehealth services into pediatric care.
• The department leveraged $3 billion for the mental health and substance abuse block grants to states, the largest investment ever in those programs.
• Through the American Rescue Plan, the department awarded $15 million to states for Mobile Crisis Intervention to help some states plan for implementation of a Medicaid mobile crisis benefit.
• Medicaid is also working with some states to cover health-related social needs with Medicaid funding, such as nutrition and housing, because people don’t experience health in a vacuum – it’s a reflection of the entirety of their lived experience.