Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Office of Media Affairs
MEDICAID NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CMS Media Relations Group
November 8, 2011 (202) 690-6145
CMS survey shows high satisfaction rates for Medicaid and CHIP
Satisfaction Rates Higher than in Employer Sponsored Coverage
Satisfaction Rates Higher than in Employer Sponsored Coverage
Parents of children with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage are showing high satisfaction with their access to doctors and the quality of health care, according to a survey announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“These results show how Medicaid and CHIP are making a positive difference in providing high quality care and peace of mind for families,” said CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D.
Findings from the report, “Parents’ Views of CHIP and Medicaid: Snapshot of Findings From a Survey of Low-Income Parents,” was announced at the fall meeting of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
Highlights of the survey of more than 1,900 parents with family incomes below 250 % of the federal poverty line include:
· Positive Views of Medicaid and CHIP: Seven in ten surveyed say the Medicaid and CHIP programs are very or somewhat good.
· Higher Satisfaction with Medicaid and CHIP than Employer Coverage: 66 percent of low-income parents surveyed were very satisfied with the Medicaid and CHIP programs, compared with 48 percent of low-income parents who said they were very satisfied with employer coverage.
· High Quality of Care with Medicaid and CHIP: 66 percent of Medicaid and CHIP parents were very satisfied with the quality of care compared to 55 percent with employer coverage.
· Access to Care with Medicaid and CHIP:
o 62% of families with a child covered under Medicaid or CHIP were very satisfied with the ease of finding a doctor to take the child’s insurance, as compared with 58% of families with employer coverage.
o 57 percent of parents were very satisfied with how quickly they could get an appointment with a medical doctor under Medicaid and CHIP compared to 53 percent with employer coverage.
· Medicaid and CHIP Provide Peace of Mind, Affordability: 71% of parents say a very motivating factor for enrolling their child in Medicaid or CHIP is “getting peace of mind.” Seventy percent (70%) of parents whose children were enrolled in the programs at the time of the survey said they were very motivated to enroll by finding out that the coverage was something they could afford.
“This survey amplifies the voice of consumers, and we are listening,” said Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. “We continue to work on streamlining the enrollment process and on providing families a variety of ways they can apply for Medicaid and CHIP coverage. A growing number of states are offering online applications, which parents say they want. CMS is supporting efforts to create and refine online applications so that we can offer the best customer service possible.”
CMS is supporting state efforts to create and refine online applications through Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) outreach grants and enhanced matching funds to States to support information technology improvements. These and other efforts are helping enroll more eligible children in the Medicaid and CHIP programs, for example the percent of eligible children enrolled grew from 82.1 to 84.8 from 2008 to 2009.
The Affordable Care Act contained a number of provisions designed to expand and improve Medicaid and CHIP. Most adults under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) - $14,500 for an individual and $29,700 for a family of four in 2011 will be eligible for Medicaid. Children will be eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP at higher income levels based on eligibility standards already in effect in their state. Proposed rules, issued by CMS on August 12, implement the policy to provide significant federal funding for states to fill the gaps in coverage for low-income people. The proposed rules establish a high degree of coordination between Medicaid, CHIP and the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges. People will be allowed to apoply for coverage on line, in person, by mail or by phone through one simplified, streamlined application.
As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2013, the Affordable Care Act requires States to pay primary care physicians no less than 100 percent of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services, which will be fully funded by the federal government. States are also eligible for some funding to help provide care management and coordination services, as well as for programs to help people with disabilities live in the community. For more information, visit www.HealthCare.gov.
The survey was conducted with 1,936 parents of children under age 19 in households where the income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and included parents of uninsured children, those with a child in Medicaid or CHIP, and those covered under their parents’ employer coverage. The margin of error on total results in the survey was + 2.2 percentage points.
For more information on the survey results, please visit:
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