NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)— The federal government will begin checking the eligibility of people who receive Medicaid and millions of people nationwide could lose coverage. The state department of health is hoping to help residents that need care, gain access.

“It will impact hundreds of patients that we actually currently treat and we’re going to be working with those patients to identify options”, said Michael Griffin CEO, DePaul Community Health Centers.

Michael Griffin is CEO of Depaul Community Health Centers. Depaul provides treatment to over 50,000 New Orleanians at its 12 healthcare centers and some are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage.

“A large portion of our patients are Medicaid- about 65%, and then we seniors about 12% on Medicare, and then we do have some that are uninsured about 10% of our patients don’t have any insurance at all,” said Griffin.

Statewide, about 2 million Louisianans get Medicaid and beginning in March a national review of eligibility will happen for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. The Louisiana department of health says it’s vital that the department says a current mailing address and backup contact information on recipients for the re-determination process.

In fact, you can log on to healthy.la.gov to update your information. As for why you may lose coverage, griffin says most times it’s failing to meet financial qualifications.

“It’s a very low financial threshold or bar, let me put it that way. Household income to qualify for Medicaid and so that’s the main reason that you would make a little bit more than what would qualify you. But again it’s such a low amount that you could qualify for some of these other health insurance options and keep your co-pay zero to $10 or something fairly low,” said Griffin.

Statement from Louisiana Department of Health:

In March 2020, Louisiana Medicaid changed some of its eligibility rules in response to the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). This included stopping closures for most Medicaid members. The recent passage of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act ends this continuous Medicaid coverage. We are preparing now to begin sending letters and renewal packets to those members where redeterminations – or more information is needed – to determine if a member is still eligible. This will occur over a 12-month time period.

We want everyone who is eligible for Medicaid to maintain their coverage. 

Some eligibility reviews can be completed without contacting the member by using information from electronic databases. Many, however, will require members to respond to mail. It is VITAL that Medicaid members make certain Medicaid has their current mailing address. Additionally, Medicaid will also need member’s cell phone numbers and email addresses as back-up methods of contact.  

Mailing of renewal letters will be staggered across 12 months, and it will take 14 months to complete the redetermination process for all Medicaid members. The first batch of renewal letters will be mailed out at the end of April and beginning of May. Members who are no longer eligible will close at the end of June 2023. 

Please share these key messages for Medicaid members

1. Make sure your contact information including your address, phone number, cell phone number and email address is up to date so you receive important letters about your health insurance coverage.
2. Check your mail and if you get a letter from Louisiana Medicaid, read the letter and follow the instructions in the letter. The letter will almost always require you to send Medicaid documentation or information.
3. If you do not provide the information requested you could lose your health insurance coverage even if you are still eligible.  
4. Members can visit Healthy.la.gov to learn how to update their contact information. Ways to make changes to their contact information include:

1. logging on to MyMedicaid.la.gov,
   1. emailing MyMedicaid@la.gov, 
   1. calling their health plan on the number on their ID card or 
   1. calling Medicaid’s Customer Service Center at 1-888-342-6207. Assistance is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.