WA requests waiver amendment to cover former foster care youth and CHIP children

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 08/03/2023 01:30 PM PDT

August 3, 2023

WA requests waiver amendment to cover former foster care youth and CHIP children

Last week, the Health Care Authority (HCA) and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) requested an amendment to Washington State’s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver. We call this waiver the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP), which is an agreement between our state and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

About the amendment

If approved by CMS, this amendment will provide:

Medicaid (Apple Health) coverage for former foster care youth—also known as Alumni coverage in Washington—from other states who turn (or turned) 18 prior to January 1, 2023.
Continuous enrollment for Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for CHIP children during the first six years of their lives. (CHIP is a program under Apple Health.)
- Note: CMS recently approved continuous Apple Health enrollment for children, ages zero though five, under our state’s MTP renewal.

Read the full amendment request.

Visit the MTP amendment page

Why request this amendment?

When people have access to continuous health care coverage, they are more likely to have improved short- and long-term health outcomes and a better quality of life. This is especially true for vulnerable individuals like young children and former foster care youth transitioning into adulthood. Breaks in coverage or inconsistent coverage could lead to unmet health care needs and delays in diagnoses, preventive services, and treatment.

This amendment, if approved—which will apply to the current MTP 2.0 period—will give young children and former foster care youth the opportunity to live their healthiest lives.

What's MTP?

MTP allows Washington State to create and continue to develop projects, activities, and services that improve our state’s health care system. The initial MTP waiver period ended on June 30, 2023. On that same day, CMS approved MTP to continue for an additional five years, beginning July 1, 2023. We call the MTP renewal “MTP 2.0.”

Learn more about MTP 2.0

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to health equity, whole-person care, and integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.