CMS provides states optional delay through June 30 for enforcement of Medicaid community engagement requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 13 announced it will delay enforcement of its Medicaid community engagement requirements that are set for Jan. 1. CMS is providing states an optional hold harmless transition period through June 30, 2027, for continued preparation efforts. CMS said that states implementing the hold harmless period will assess whether individuals meet the requirements or are excluded from it, but they will not deny applications or disenroll eligible individuals solely for failure to meet the requirements. The community engagement requirements call for certain adults to complete 80 hours per month of "qualifying activities," such as employment, education, community service or participation in a work program, or meet equivalent income thresholds.