Review of Rhode Island's Compliance With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Medicaid Eligibility Requirements

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) provides fiscal relief to States to protect and maintain State Medicaid programs in a period of economic downturn. For the recession adjustment period (October 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010), the Recovery Act provides additional Medicaid funding based on temporary increases in States' Federal medical assistance percentages (FMAP). A State is not eligible for an increase in its FMAP for quarters during the recession adjustment period in which its Medicaid eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures are more restrictive than those in effect on July 1, 2008.

Our review of Rhode Island's Medicaid eligibility standards found that although the State made changes to its Medicaid eligibility standards, methodologies, and procedures after July 1, 2008, the standards, methodologies, and procedures in effect during the first three quarters of FY 2009 were not more restrictive than those in effect on July 1, 2008.

This report contains no recommendations.