CMS notifies states of options for transitioning to 6-month Medicaid renewals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services March 6 issued guidance to states on transitioning to six-month Medicaid redeterminations in 2027, a change established by the budget reconciliation bill passed last year. For individuals enrolled in the adult expansion group on Jan. 1, 2027, the guidance provides states with two permissible implementation options. The first allows states to reschedule renewal initiation dates no earlier than Jan. 1, 2027, to transition beneficiaries much earlier into the six month renewal cycle, while the second allows states to apply the six month renewal requirement at the beneficiary's next scheduled renewal in 2027. CMS did not make changes to the renewal process.