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GAO-21-343SP 1 (2021-02-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaeclv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: IN TIMES OF CRISIS. Figure 1: Examples of State and Federal Use of Medicaid during Times of Crisis When pandemics, economic recessions, natural disasters, and other crises occur, states and the federal government initiate efforts to mitigate damage and protect vulnerable groups. Some of these efforts have included using Medicaid to ensure eligible individuals continue to have access to essential health services. For example, states have enrolled individuals into Medicaid who have been affected by a crisis, such as those evacuating their residences due to natural disasters; and the federal government has waived program restrictions to allow states more flexibility, such as expanding telehealth services when in-person visits were not reasonable. Legislation has also provided additional funding and coverage in response to various crises. This capsule pulls from a number of GAO reports to examine how the federal government and states have used Medicaid in times of crises. Crisis Examples of legislative action Pandemics and epidemics Widespread diseases can severely disrupt day-to-day life and exacerbate existing health and social problems. Economic recessions When unemployment rises and income declines, demand for Medicaid increases while state budgets become strained. Natural disasters Severe weather events threaten health and safety and decrease access to health care. Personal health crises Some health diseases like cancer can be crippling, and not everyone may have access to treatment. Source: GAO. I GAO-21-343SP Examples of state and federal use of Medicaid during crises In response to COVID-19, the º As of the end of 2020, federal Families First Coronavirus spending under Medicaid for Response Act increased COVID-19 totaled about $25 Medicaid funding and allowed billion-7 percent of all federal states to cover testing for Medicaid spending in 2020. uninsured individuals. s 15 states used Medicaid flexibility to cover testing for people who were uninsured. After the Great Recession º Medicaid enrollment grew by began in 2007, the American over 14% nationally between Recovery and Reinvestment late 2007 and early 2010. Act of 2009 provided - Over 3.5 million children were increased funding to address Oew enrmllin chid the increased Medicaid newly enrolled in Medicaid enrollment that resulted from during the same time period, job losses, largely due to the recession. After Hurricane Katrina, the º States extended coverage to an Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 estimated 118,600 individuals provided increased funding to from late 2005 through early ensure individuals who needed 2006. health care and were displaced by the hurricane had access to Several states enrolled a large Medicaid coverage for their number of evacuees into health care needs. Medicaid: Texas enrolled nearly 39,000 in January 2006. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 (Treatment Act) allowed states to extend Medicaid coverage to certain people needing breast or cervical cancer treatment. 43,549 people needing these treatments enrolled into Medicaid in 2019. º As of 2019, 48 states extended Medicaid eligibility under the Treatment Act to individuals needing these treatments. GAO-21-343SP Medicaid in Times of Crisis

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