The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will expire May 11, the White House announced in January. Among other changes triggered by the end of the PHE, some Medicare flexibilities will end. And, because Congress did not renew some pandemic-related funding, patients enrolled in Medicaid throughout the COVID-19 emergency could lose that coverage.

During the PHE, states agreed to maintain Medicaid enrollment for beneficiaries in exchange for federal matching funds. But the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed by President Joe Biden on Dec. 29, did not renew those funds, and states will once again be able to process Medicaid redeterminations and disenroll residents who no longer qualify, starting April 1. Many of those facing disenrollment from Medicaid may be eligible for other coverage.

Some resources to help understand the changes and communicate them to patients who might be affected are below. ISMA will continue working to educate members about what the end of the PHE means for patients.

Resources:
IN.gov - How a return to normal will impact some Indiana Medicaid members >>

Medicaid.gov - Unwinding and Returning to Regular Operations after COVID-19 >>

HHS Fact Sheet: PHE Transition Roadmap >>

CMS Informational Bulletin (1/5/2023) >>

CMS Toolkit: Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding >>