States told to find way to clear Medicaid backlog

Medicaid enrollee Mark Mullin, 36, poses for a photo at his home in Whittier, Calif. on Monday, July 14, 2014. Mullin enrolled for Medicaid in February and was told his application was being reviewed. On July 5, 2014 Mullin ended up in the emergency room and had an appendectomy. He’s now anxious about getting a big hospital bill and hasn’t made a follow-up appointment to see a doctor. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Medicaid enrollee Mark Mullin, 36, poses for a photo at his home in Whittier, Calif. on Monday, July 14, 2014. Mullin enrolled for Medicaid in February and was told his application was being reviewed. On July 5, 2014 Mullin ended up in the emergency room and had an appendectomy. He’s now anxious about getting a big hospital bill and hasn’t made a follow-up appointment to see a doctor. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

By Associated Press July 14, 2014 4 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A half-dozen states with backlogs for Medicaid enrollees were facing a federal deadline Monday to create plans for getting those low-income residents enrolled in health coverage.

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent letters dated June 27 to Alaska, California, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Tennessee asking those states to address gaps in their eligibility and enrollment systems that have delayed access to coverage for poor and disabled people.

The letters were sent months after the first national sign-up drive under President Barack Obama’s health reform law.

The letters stated that those states had 10 days to come up with a response plan, but health advocates say there is no clear deadline for actually clearing the backlog.

The federal government “will remain in close contact with states to monitor their progress to ensure that they are facilitating Medicaid enrollment for those individuals eligible,” agency spokeswoman Marilyn Jackson said in a statement.