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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop 52-26-12 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 
Center for Medicaid and State Operations 
JAN  14  ml 
Dear State Legislator: 
We are pleased to share with you a new resource guide on Medicaid eligibility policy, an area of 
particular relevance for states providing coverage for children through Medicaid expansions as 
well as states with separate child health programs who are working with Medicaid on 
coordinated simplification.  The guide, entitled "Continuing the Progress: Enrolling and 
Retaining Low-Income Families and Children in Health Care Coverage," is enclosed for your 
use. 
The "Continuing the Progress" guide was developed after the Department ofHealth and Human 
Services conducted reviews ofstate Medicaid eligibility policies and application procedures in 
the 50 states, the District ofColumbia and the Territories.  In conducting these reviews and 
working closely with states to analyze the findings, the Department found a number of 
innovative practices that seemed useful to share to help states simplify their processes and make 
the Medicaid program more accessible to eligible families.  The Department also found that there 
were misconceptions about what Federal law requires and allows. 
This guide is intended to assist state officials, policy-makers, and others interested in promoting 
coverage among low-income families and simplifying Medicaid procedures by: 
	  Specifying the minimum Federal eligibility requirements; 
	  Providing guidance on the array ofoptions available to states to streamline 
application and eligibility processes; 
	  Clarifying issues related to the de-linking ofMedicaid and the Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families program; and 
	  Outlining the flexibility states have to simplify their eligibility rules and/or expand 
coverage oflow-income families and children. 
iii 
Additionally, the guide includes state-by-state information about current application and 
enrollment processes for children in Medicaid and separate child health programs.  This 
information was obtained in partnership with states and the National Governors' Association. 
We hope that the "Continuing the Progress" guide will assist you in your efforts to ensure that 
eligible low-income families and children have access to health insurance benefits.  If you would 
like additional copies, they may be downloaded from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services website at www.cms.gov/medicaid/wrefhmpg.htm. 
Dennis G. Smith 
Director 
Center for Medicaid and State Operations  . 
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CMS Regional Administrators
 
CMS Associate Regional Administrators 
for Medicaid and State Operations 
Lee Partridge 
Director, Health Policy Unit 
American Public Human Services Association 
Joy Wilson 
Director, Health Committee 
National Conference of State Legislatures 
Matt Salo 
Director ofHealth Legislation 
National Governors' Association 
Brent Ewig 
Senior Director, Policy Access 
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 
Jennifer King 
Health and Human Services Task Force Director 
American Legislative Exchange Council