Hear from National Medicaid Experts about Trends in Medicaid Finances, Key Policies and Challenges Beyond the Unwinding

As states continue to manage the unwinding of the pandemic-related continuous enrollment provision of Medicaid and phase out of the enhanced federal matching funds, there is considerable uncertainty about how Medicaid enrollment and spending will change in the months ahead.

While the challenges of managing the unwinding and conducting redeterminations for all Medicaid enrollees remain a dominant issue facing state Medicaid programs, states have also been focused on other important policies, including addressing provider reimbursement rates and workforce challenges, behavioral health coverage and access, and social determinants of health and health disparities, according to soon-to-be released findings from KFF’s 23rd annual survey of state Medicaid directors.

On November 14, 2023 KFF and the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) held a web briefing to discuss the latest trends in Medicaid enrollment and spending and highlight key Medicaid policy changes that states implemented in state FY 2023 or plan to implement in FY 2024.

The event drew upon findings from KFF’s 23rd annual budget survey of Medicaid officials. KFF released two reports based on the survey that day. The first was an analysis of national trends in states’ Medicaid enrollment and spending. The second, completed in collaboration with NAMD, provided state-specific information on Medicaid policies and programs.

Moderator and Speakers
The lead authors of KFF’s 23rd annual Medicaid budget survey discussed the major policy developments and trends in FY 2023 and FY 2024.

• Robin Rudowitz, a Vice President at KFF, will moderate the briefing.
• Elizabeth Williams, a Senior Policy Analyst with KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, will present enrollment and spending findings.
• Elizabeth Hinton, Associate Director with KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, will present the survey findings.
• Kathleen Gifford, Principal at Health Management Associates, will co-present the findings.

Special Guests
NAMD joined two state Medicaid directors to discuss their state perspectives and experiences.

• Kate McEvoy, Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors
• Amir Bassiri, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Health Insurance Programs and New York State Medicaid Director
• Jennifer Strohecker, Medicaid Director, Utah Department of Health and Human Services