Medical billing technology company Cedar has recently launched a new tool called Cedar Cover, designed to assist patients in enrolling and maintaining their Medicaid coverage. This comes at a crucial time as the healthcare industry faces significant cuts to the safety-net insurance program. Cedar Cover helps identify patients who may be eligible for Medicaid, reminds beneficiaries of upcoming eligibility checks, assists in managing care denials, and connects them to medication co-pay assistance.
The launch of Cedar Cover follows the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes historic cuts to Medicaid totaling over $1 trillion in federal healthcare spending over the next decade. One major change introduced by the law is the implementation of work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries, requiring them to log work, education, or volunteer hours to maintain coverage.
While proponents argue that work requirements help preserve the safety-net program for those most in need, studies have shown that previous experiments with work mandates resulted in people losing coverage without a significant increase in employment. There are concerns that eligible individuals may struggle to navigate the reporting process, ultimately leading to loss of coverage.
The Congressional Budget Office predicts that an additional 10 million people will be uninsured by 2034 due to the law, posing financial challenges for healthcare providers who may experience revenue losses and a rise in uncompensated care costs. Cedar President Seth Cohen highlighted the impact on providers who will face reimbursement cuts and patients who may struggle to cover the resulting losses.
Cedar Cover aims to streamline the Medicaid enrollment process for patients and provide timely reminders about work requirements and eligibility check deadlines. Patients can determine their eligibility through an initial screening and receive guidance on enrolling in the program if eligible. The tool also uses state-specific data from partner Fortuna Health to send reminders about work requirements and renewal dates based on the approval date.
In addition to enrollment assistance, Cedar Cover can help patients navigate and resolve claims denials and connect them with medication assistance programs. The tool seamlessly integrates with major electronic health records systems like Epic, making it easier for healthcare providers to support their patients’ Medicaid needs.
Several health systems, including Novant Health, Baystate Health, and the Iowa Clinic, have already adopted Cedar Cover to enhance their Medicaid enrollment processes. This innovative tool is set to play a crucial role in supporting patients as they navigate the changing landscape of Medicaid coverage.
