In October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services extended the federal public health emergency (PHE) that has been in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the PHE, states have been prohibited from disenrolling Medicaid members.
Maureen Corcoran, director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) recently stated that “all indications are that the PHE will not be renewed again on January 11, 2023.” Once the federal government declares an end to the PHE, Medicaid will resume its normal eligibility review process. This means that all eligible Medicaid members will have to renew their Medicaid coverage or risk losing it.
While some renewals can be completed without a need to contact the member, some renewals will require members to respond to mail from their County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) regarding their Medicaid eligibility. To prepare for this process, Medicaid is asking those who receive Medicaid services to ensure that their contact information is up-to-date on their system.
How can Medicaid members prepare for this process?
It is imperative that your contact information is up to date, so you don’t miss out on important notices. You can update your contact information by:
- Calling 1-800-324-8680. Help is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
- In-person or by mail at your local CDJFS. You can find your CDJFS by selecting your county from the dropdown at https://medicaid.ohio.gov/home/update-contact-info/select-county-dropdown.
- Online. Members with an existing Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal (SSP) account can report changes online at https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov. After logging in, they should click the Access my Benefits tile, then click Report a Change to my Case from the drop down and follow the prompts.
If you receive a letter telling you it is time to renew, or that your CDJFS needs more information, you should respond immediately. Your CDJFS needs to hear from you to review your Medicaid eligibility. Members who do not respond to renewal letters or requests for information risk losing their coverage, even if they are eligible.
More info: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Unwinding from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency