As a result of the federal public health emergency, the Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) issued provider notices regarding temporary Medicaid policy changes. As a reminder, all individuals enrolled in Medicaid have received continuous ongoing eligibility with limited reasons for disenrollment (announced in IHCP Bulletin BT202033).
Effective March 31, 2023, the continuous member eligibility will end. Individuals will be subject to standard member eligibility rules as of April 1, 2023. It is important for providers to confirm patient eligibility status in light of these changes.
The federal spending bill uncoupled Medicaid coverage protections from the federal public health emergency. Any further extension of the federal public health emergency itself will not impact the timing of returning to normal operations for Medicaid eligibility.
The federal public health emergency is ongoing, and this change only impacts continuous eligibility at this time. Cost-sharing and other provisions related to the public health emergency will be addressed at a later date.
In addition, the FCC issued a declaratory ruling allowing federal and state government agencies and partners, including managed care plans, to send automated text messages and robocalls to Americans to advise them of coverage changes in government health care programs as states begin Medicaid eligibility redeterminations in April. The FCC said its goal is to ensure that millions of Americans can receive the information they need to maintain enrollment in Medicaid and other governmental healthcare programs to avoid losing healthcare coverage.