The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for implementing laws passed by Congress related to Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Basic Health Program. To implement these programs, CMS issues various forms of guidance to explain how laws will be implemented and what states and others need to do to comply. In addition to regulations, CMS issues sub-regulatory guidance to address policy issues as well as operational updates and technical clarifications of existing guidance.
Federal Policy Guidance
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Rescission of Guidance on Health-Related Social Needs
Date:
Topics:
- Health Related Social Needs
- Program Administration
Type: Informational Bulletin
2025 Federal Poverty Level Standards
Date:
Topics:
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- Eligibility
- Medicaid-Medicare Issues
- Program Administration
Type: Informational Bulletin
Healthy Adult Opportunity State Guidance (SMD 25-001)
Date:
Topics:
- Delivery System
- Program Administration
- Section 1115 Demonstrations
Type: State Medicaid Director Letter
Section 5112 Requirement for all States to Provide Continuous Eligibility to Children in Medicaid and CHIP under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Updated SHO and FAQs
Date:
Topics:
- Access to Care
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- Coverage
- Eligibility
- Program Administration
- COVID-19
- Unwinding
Type: State Health Official Letter
2026 Updates to the Child and Adult Core Health Care Quality Measurement Sets and Mandatory Reporting Guidance
Date:
Topics:
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- CHIPRA
- Program Administration
- Quality of Care
Type: State Health Official Letter
Ensuring Seamless Coverage Transitions between Medicaid, Separate CHIP, and Other Insurance Affordability Programs and Exercise of Enforcement Discretion to Delay Implementation of Certain Coverage Transition Requirements
Date:
Topics:
- Access to Care
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- Compliance
- Coverage
- Eligibility
- Enrollment
- Program Administration
- Renewals
- Unwinding
- COVID-19
Type: Informational Bulletin
Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Requirements for Providing, Prepopulating and Accepting Eligibility Renewal Forms
Date:
Topics:
- Access to Care
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- Coverage
- Eligibility
- Enrollment
- Program Administration
- Renewals
- Unwinding
Type: Informational Bulletin
Provision of Medicaid and CHIP Services to Incarcerated Youth - FAQs
Date:
Topics:
- Eligibility
- Benefits
- Program Administration
Type: State Health Official Letter
Protecting Medicaid Beneficiaries Against Impermissible Fraud and Abuse Sanctions (SMD 24-005)
Date:
Topics:
- Access to Care
- Compliance
- Program Administration
- Program Integrity
Type: State Medicaid Director Letter
Links:
Basic Requirements for Conducting Ex Parte Renewals of Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility
Date:
Topics:
- Access to Care
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- Coverage
- Eligibility
- Program Administration
- Renewals
- COVID-19
- Unwinding
Type: Informational Bulletin