LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT THE SCALE
OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE
FACING LAWMAKERS AND FACING
PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
>> SAM BROCK THANK YOU FOR THAT
REPORT.
WE APPRECIATE IT. AND THIS YEAR SAW A MASSIVE
PURGE OF PEOPLE FROM THE
COUNTRY’S MEDICAID ROLLS AFTER
PANDEMICEO PROTECTION EXPIRED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHERE MORE
PEOPLE LOST COVERAGE IN TEXAS
THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
COUNTRY.
>> WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF
PATIENTS THAT HAVE NO IDEA THAT
THEIR MEDICAID ENDED.
>> Reporter: ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, MILLIONS OF MEDICAID
SUBSCRIBERS ARE AT RISK OF
LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> ONE DOESN’T HAVE ACCESS TO
INSURANCE, THOSE DECISIONS ARE
BASED ON AM I AS SICK ATHINK I
AM.
DO I NEED TO GO.
>> Reporter: IN AUSTIN TEXAS
COMMUNITY CARE HEALTH CENTERS A
NETWORK OFFERING FREE AND LOW
COST CARE IS SCRAMBLING.
NOT JUST TO REENROLL BUT ALSO
TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON HOW
TO KEEP THEIR COVERAGE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY BUSY
ALL THE TIME.
>> Reporter: FOR THREE YEARS
DURING THE PANDEMIC, CONGRESS
REQUIRED MEDICAID PROGRAMS TO
KEEP PEOPLE ENROLLED.
>> AND THAT MEANT THAT PATIENT
AND FAMILIES HAD ACCESS TO
SUSTAIN BENEFITS AND CONTINUITY
IN THE MEDICAID BENEFITS.
THAT’S LIFE CHANGING LIFE
ALTERING.
>> Reporter: THAT CONTINUOUS
ENROLLMENT IS OVER.
>> NEVER HAD 90 SOMETHING
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM
ENROLLED AND WE NEVER TRIED TO
DO THIS ALL AT ONCE SO EVERY
STATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WE
SPEAK.
>> Reporter: SO FAR, OVER 11
MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LOST
MEDICAID COVERAGE NATIONWIDE
ACCORDING TO THE KAISER
FOUNDATION IN STATES DATA
AVAILABLE 71% OF PEOPLE ARE
LOSING COVERAGE NOT BECAUSE
THEY ARE INELIGIBLE RATHER FOR
PROCEDURAL REASONS.
LIKE MISSING PAPERWORK.
THE VOLUME NOW PUTTING A STRAIN
ON STATES.
>> JUST ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL
THE CHILDREN LOSING MED
MEDICAID ARE IN TEXAS.
THIS IS HUGE.
WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A DECLINE
LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: THEY TELL NBC NEWS
AS OF DECEMBER IT IS TAKING AN
AVERAGE OF 60 DAYS TO COMPLETE
AN APPLICATION FOR MEDICAID.
BUT TEXAS LAWMAKERS WANT MORE.
OVER THE SUMMER, CONGRESSMAN
AND HIS DOZEN DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES URGEDED
ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ACTION
AND CONTINUED TO PUSH THE
AGENCY TO ENSURE THE ENROLLMENT
PROCESS IS TIMELY.
>> MORE AND MORE TEXANS
PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
WILL HAD BEEN DENIED HEALTH
CARE WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE.
>> Reporter: BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TELLING NBC NEWS
THEY ARE WORKING WITH TEXAS TO
FIX THE PROBLEM.
>> WE HAVE MET WITH THE STATE
AND REVIEWED AND REQUIRED TEXAS
TO REINSTATE OVER 90,000 PEOPLE
THAT WERE INCORRECTLY
DISENROLLED.
>> Reporter: THIS FALL THEY
ANNOUNCED HALF A MILLION
CHILDREN REGAIN COVERAGE AFTER
WORKING WITH STATES ON REPORTED
SYSTEMS ISSUES.
IN THE INTERIM A STATE AGENCY
WRAP UP THE YEAR’S MED KALE
ELIGIBILITY CHECKS, COMMUNITY
HEALTH CARE CLINICS LIKE DR.
FOREIGNER’S ARE STEPPING UP.
>> FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A