Implementing Eligibility Changes Under the Affordable Care Act Issues Facing State Medicaid and CHIP Programs

Whether or not states expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, they still must implement provisions to streamline Medicaid eligibility determinations. These provisions recommend the use of information technology to provide coverage that fits an individual's circumstances and needs. States can draw on the lessons from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which introduced a more consumer-friendly approach to eligibility determinations for constituents at all income levels.