On November 17th, the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) asked Congress for clarity and predictability for the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
One of the challenges that COVID-19 has created is a broad uncertainty about what will happen next. Since March of 2020, we have faced ambiguity in so many facets of our lives. When the Trump administration declared the Public Health Emergency in 2020, I know I never thought it would still be going as the calendar turns into 2023. However, as we now know, the PHE will extend at least until the middle of April 2023. But when will it end? When will states face the challenge of recertifying the significantly larger Medicaid population after years of continuous coverage rules neutering these renewals? According to a recent issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the number of people on Medicaid has grown by 18.7 million (representing a 26.3% increase) since the beginning of the pandemic. We know that much of that growth will dissipate with the end of the PHE.
In a letter addressed to Congress, the National Association of Medicaid Directors is asking for clarity around the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency – or more specifically around the end of the continuous coverage requirement currently tied to the PHE. Writing of the uncertainty that has existed almost since the beginning of the PHE, they tell Congress that the “…status quo that is contingent on constant revisions every 90 days as the PHE gets renewed can no longer be sustained.”
We at BeneLynk certainly support the NAMD in their request for certainty and predictability. Planning for the end of the continuous coverage period is an onerous challenge for managed Medicaid plans and for Medicare plans with dual enrolled members. Whether it is Congress delinking the continuous coverage requirement from the PHE, or the Biden administration laying out a timeline for the end of the PHE, there is a growing need for certainty.
In the spirit of focusing on what can be done now, we are encouraging our clients and all Medicaid and Medicaid payers to develop a plan.
- Update member contact information
- Work with state to understand current their current plan and to ask for information on members who are/will be out of compliance with renewal requirements when PHE ends
- Put in place plan to help members through renewal processes and, where appropriate, to reapply for Medicaid benefits
Above all, we encourage all health plans to have a human-to-human conversation with members to work together to navigate the end of the PHE.
We’re always happy to talk about our approach and to hear of any best practices in the industry. Drop us a line today at sales@benelynk.com.
About the Author
Sean Libby has been an advocate for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with low income for over 20 years. At BeneLynk, we are committed to helping managed care plans to deliver superior Social Determinant of Health solutions to their members. We are always looking to learn more and would like to hear your ideas on how best to assist members in need. Drop us a note at Sales@BeneLynk.com.