Medicaid entitlement for 29 - FY 2026 - T21

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services received a $65.3 million Block Grant from the Centers for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CFDA 93.767) on October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2027. This entitlement award funds Maine's state CHIP program to maintain and expand health insurance coverage to uninsured, low-income children and eligible pregnant women under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. As a federal-state matching program, the funds enable Maine to sustain and enhance child health assistance eligibility, enrollment, and coverage continuity for vulnerable populations under age 19.

The award reflects Maine's role as the designated state administering agency for CHIP entitlements, supporting the program's broader national objective of improving access to health care and quality of life for low-income children. The funding represents a standard annual state block grant allocation, consistent with the CHIP program's formula-driven, non-competitive entitlement structure. Maine DHHS administers the award across the state and distributes sub-awards to community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, and regional service providers to support outreach, enrollment, and retention activities that connect eligible children and families to Medicaid and CHIP coverage.