HHS approves Medicaid initiatives to help children

The Health and Human Services (HHS) department this week approved a demonstration project in Oregon permitting children to remain enrolled in Medicaid up to age 6. The move will prevent coverage gaps that can cause children to lose access to care. In addition, CMS approved a demonstration project in Massachusetts and Oregon to help eligible Medicaid enrollees access social services, including evidence-based nutritional assistance and clinically-tailored housing supports. Separately, HHS announced that health care providers who treat uninsured or underinsured patients with commercially procured bebtelovimab, a COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy for patients in the outpatient setting at high risk for hospitalization, may be eligible for free replacement doses. (HHS news release, 9/28/22).