Administrative Burden

Three other options—express lane eligibility, fast-track enrollment using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, and fast-track enrollment for eligible parents of children already enrolled—have further eased enrollment experiences in some states. 65 Express lane eligibility allows states to automatically enroll children already enrolled in programs like SNAP. For example, a child with an already accepted SNAP application can be enrolled in Medicaid without providing any further information or application materials. Starting in 2013, CMS also allowed states to enroll parents into Medicaid using SNAP data. In states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility, eligibility guidelines for SNAP and Medicaid are nearly identical, showing only slight differences in how income and household size is calculated. States contact individuals based on their SNAP eligibility, ask them if they wish to enroll in Medicaid, and then follow up with a few questions. If eligible, they are immediately enrolled without additional paperwork or procedures, thus reducing duplicative compliance costs. A similar process is in effect for eligible parents of enrolled children. These parents are identified and then contacted, and after providing consent, enrolled. Fast-track enrollment both increases participation among those eligible, as well as reducing administrative financial costs. 66