Medicaid coverage provides health insurance for nearly two million people in Washington State. Known as Apple Health in our state, hospitals and providers have the opportunity to ensure qualifying individuals remain enrolled in the program as the continuous enrollment standard from the COVID public health emergency ends. Join WSHA for the webcast “How Hospitals Can Help Patients with Medicaid Redetermination” from 4-5 p.m. May 24. Register here.
In January 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act mandated a continuous enrolled Medicaid standard, which meant that states were required to freeze disenrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries who were enrolled as of March 18, 2020, or anyone newly enrolled in Medicaid until after the public health emergency expired.
The continuous enrollment standard from the PHE started its unwinding after March 31, 2023.
According to the Health Care Authority, roughly 300,000 Apple Health clients will be impacted by the Medicaid recertification when it resumes as normal during the 12-month redetermination period. During this time, it is important that clients update their income and address to ensure that if they are still eligible, they remain covered by Apple Health. As of April 1, 2023, the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) have gradually resumed recertification and certification as normal.
Providers, including hospital staff and other stakeholders, can engage in outreach efforts by becoming a volunteer Apple Health Ambassador. For further information on how to become involved with the ambassador program, please visit the Health Care Authority’s designated webpage. (Mary Storace)
