Ending of NYS Medicaid Easements: Expiration of e14 Waivers

As part of the “unwinding” process following the end of the Public Health Emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had provided temporary easements related to Medicaid renewals.  Many of these easements have now expired on June 25, 2025.

The following key updates, as outlined in GIS 25/MA 06, reflect the return to standard Medicaid renewal procedures:

·       End of SNAP Auto-Renewals for Certain Medicaid Recipients: Individuals who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled have been receiving automatic Medicaid renewals through their active SNAP cases. This temporary policy will end soon—auto-renewals will continue in New York City through September 30, 2025, and in the Rest of State (ROS) through August 31, 2025.

·       Reinstatement of the Resource Test for Non-MAGI Medicaid Renewals: Effective July 1, 2025, the resource test will now be required for non-MAGI Medicaid renewals. Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS)/Human Resources Administration (HRA) must now review resources for all renewal cases, as well as for requests to increase coverage—such as transitions to institutional care, referrals from the NY State of Health to LDSS for community-based long-term care, or cases involving spenddown.

·       Late Medicaid Renewals: Easements remain in place for individuals who submit their Medicaid renewal forms late. If a renewal is received before the case closes or within 90 days after closure, LDSS/HRA must process it. If received within 30 days of closure, the case must be reopened. If received after 30 days, it must be re-registered. If the individual is found eligible, Medicaid coverage may be retroactively reinstated to the date of discontinuation.

·       Transition to Medicaid Eligibility Client Management System (MECM) for Certain NY State of Health Enrollees: Beginning September 2025, most individuals losing Medicaid eligibility under MAGI rules through the NY State of Health will be transitioned to the MECM system for an SSI-related renewal. This includes individuals who are age 65 or older, have Medicare, or are turning 65. Those requesting long-term care services, Medicaid with a spenddown or spousal refusal, among others, will be transitioned to LDSS/HRA for further processing.