After more than three years and 11 extensions, the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will expire May 11. More pressingly, Texas will begin “unwinding” Medicaid continuous eligibility for the more than 2.5 million residents who benefited from such coverage thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funding.
States are required by federal law to begin the unwinding process, including redetermining all Medicaid enrollees' eligibility for coverage, by April 1. Texas Medicaid already has begun communicating with its 5.8 million enrollees about this effort.
To help practices support patients through this looming coverage cliff, the Texas Medical Association, along with several state specialty societies and the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, will host a free webinar on March 23 from 12:30-1:30 pm. A recording will be available.
Medicaid Unwinding 101 – How to Prepare Your Practice and Your Patients is geared toward office administrators, front-office staff, and schedulers, but will be open to any interested physician or other practice staff.
The webinar agenda includes:
- An overview of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s plan to unwind continuous Medicaid coverage and to redetermine eligibility in just eight months;
- A review of state and federal health plans for which Texas patients may be eligible if they lose Medicaid coverage;
- A discussion of how to connect patients to community navigators, which can help them find and enroll in such plans; and
- A guide to help physician practices educate patients about the unwinding process and prepare staff for the impact of this policy change.
To register, email Leslie Jones, TMA senior operations coordinator, with your name and contact information no later than noon on March 22. Additional details will be available on the TMA website.
Last Updated On
March 16, 2023
Originally Published On
March 15, 2023
Emma Freer
Associate Editor
(512) 370-1383