CMS recalls furloughed workers ahead of ACA open enrollment
With open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) set to begin on Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is recalling furloughed employees “in order to best serve the American people,” a spokesperson told multiple media outlets.
The agency temporarily let go of around half its staff starting on Oct. 1, when the federal government officially shut down due to a lack of appropriated funding. Since then, around 3,000 workers at CMS have been staying home without a paycheck. Nearly all of those that have continued working have been doing so with pay, as CMS employees are exempt from the wage freeze impacting most federal workers.
In an email announcing the return to work on Oct. 27, CMS officials told recipients they “will be paid” for the days they work—at least for now. The message, obtained and reported on by Federal News Network, explained that CMS was able to repurpose some funding to make paychecks possible for staff working on Medicare and ACA enrollment.
Officials told Axios that means it will be using money taken in as fees for use of its databases by researchers to make payroll. That money is expected to later be replaced once Congress is back in session.
Workers can expect money to start coming in on Nov. 7, a normally scheduled payday for federal workers.
A spokesperson confirmed that all furloughed staff would be subject to the return to work notice, adding that “CMS will continue to abide by rules governing the Democrat-led government shutdown.” Those returning were told they would be tasked with largely performing their usual duties, with some exceptions for minimal operations as outlined in the shutdown contingency plan released by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Among other things, public communications and regular reporting remain delayed. In the case of CMS, those pauses allow it to prioritize supporting the incoming wave of Medicare and ACA insurance enrollees.
Coverage costs in limbo
Americans can expect some complications with buying ACA-approved medical coverage through the Healthcare.gov marketplace, as enhanced COVID-era subsidies that made plans affordable for millions of Medicaid-ineligible Americans have officially expired. Meaning, the cost to renew could be substantially higher.
The government shutdown is centered around Democrats wanting the subsidies renewed—and Republicans refusing, because GOP party leadership says undocumented noncitizens are taking advantage of the program.
There’s no telling when the shutdown will end. It’s officially the second-longest in American history.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.