Beginning April 1, 2023, states will be allowed to terminate Medicaid enrollment for individuals who are no longer eligible for benefits. Under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the federal Medicaid program has required states to maintain enrollment of nearly all Medicaid beneficiaries, as a condition of receiving increased federal funding during the PHE. This “continuous enrollment” requirement ends effective April 1, 2023, while other temporary state authorities under the PHE expire May 11, 2023.
There will be a process for “unwinding” or transitioning from continuous enrollment under the PHE to regular operations and procedures for determining eligibility. States are required to send notices in cases in which termination of Medicaid benefits is anticipated. Before terminating the benefits of an enrollee, states must complete a redetermination of the individual’s eligibility, using the same procedures as required for the annual review and re-certification of benefits.
States must begin a 12-month process of unwinding from continuous enrollment between February 1, 2023 and April 30, 2023. Consequently, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission may begin sending notices to Medicaid beneficiaries as soon as February 1, 2023. The Stone Law Firm can assist Medicaid long-term care beneficiaries with responding to a HHSC notice regarding the end of the PHE. Please call 713.434.6310 for assistance with Medicaid eligibility issues and the end of the PHE.