MEDICAID: Memorialize Congress and urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement certain eligibility redeterminations.

2026 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20
BY SENATOR WHEAT
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To memorialize the United States Congress and to urge the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services to authorize states to implement a presumption of Medicaid
eligibility during redetermination for elderly and disabled beneficiaries and to allow
exemption from annual redetermination requirements consistent with reforms
enacted by the state of Florida.
WHEREAS, the Medicaid program provides critical health coverage to elderly
individuals, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals who rely on consistent
access to care; and
WHEREAS, under federal Medicaid law, states must periodically redetermine
eligibility for beneficiaries, which can create administrative burdens for state agencies and
unnecessary disruptions in coverage for vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, interruptions in Medicaid eligibility often occur due to procedural issues
rather than actual ineligibility, resulting in delays in care, increased administrative costs, and
adverse health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Florida enacted legislation in 2025 providing that individuals aged
sixty-five or older or those determined to be disabled who were initially determined eligible
for Medicaid shall be presumed eligible for continued coverage during the redetermination
process unless there is a material change in disability or economic status; and
WHEREAS, under that policy, beneficiaries or their caregivers are required to notify
the appropriate state agency of any material change in circumstances affecting eligibility,
and the state may conduct a redetermination when such changes occur; and
WHEREAS, the Florida law further directs the state to seek federal authorization to
exempt certain Medicaid-eligible disabled individuals from annual eligibility
redetermination requirements in order to reduce administrative burdens and ensure
continuity of care; and
WHEREAS, this approach maintains program integrity while improving
administrative efficiency and protecting access to health care for vulnerable populations; and
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SCR NO. 20 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Florida's legislation recognizes that individuals who have already been
determined eligible for Medicaid services should maintain coverage during the
redetermination process absent a material change in their disability or financial
circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the legislation also requires the responsible state agency to notify
beneficiaries before conducting redeterminations and to provide the results of those
redeterminations upon completion; and
WHEREAS, these reforms seek federal authorization to exempt Medicaid-eligible
disabled individuals from annual redeterminations to simplify eligibility maintenance and
improve program administration.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes
the Congress of the United States and urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
to authorize states to implement Medicaid eligibility redetermination reforms consistent with
those adopted by the state of Florida.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress and CMS are urged to authorize states
to:
(1) Establish a presumption of continued Medicaid eligibility for individuals aged
sixty-five or older or determined to be disabled during the redetermination process unless
there is a material change in disability or economic status.
(2) Require beneficiaries or their caregivers to report material changes in
circumstances that may affect eligibility.
(3) Permit state Medicaid agencies to conduct redeterminations when such material
changes occur.
(4) Allow states to seek federal authorization to exempt certain Medicaid-eligible
disabled individuals from annual redetermination requirements, in order to simplify
eligibility maintenance and improve continuity of care.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Legislature supports federal action
that provides states greater flexibility to streamline Medicaid eligibility processes, reduce
unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensure continuity of care for elderly and disabled
beneficiaries.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, the
secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the
administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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