New community engagement waivers could impact approximately 1.7 million Medicaid beneficiaries in 10 states, about half of the beneficiaries in those states, according to an analysis by PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI). Section 1115 waivers which require some beneficiaries to work or otherwise engage in some kind of defined activity for a specified number of hours per week or month, are being approved by CMS, which is encouraging states to develop and apply for them. The waivers could lead to reductions in Medicaid populations, with implications for hospitals and health systems serving high proportions of patients covered by Medicaid.
The report can be obtained at https://www.pwc.com/us/en/health-industries/health-research-institute/publications/pdf/pwc-health-research-institute-medicaid-1115-waivers-insight.pdf.