COVID protections from the federal government end in April, which means Medicaid recipients will be reevaluated for eligibility. Tara LeBlanc Executive Director of Louisiana’s Medicaid program said since March 2020 no one was removed from the program because of the pandemic but annual reviews can resume.
“States are required to look and redetermine every Medicaid individual to see if they’re still eligible and if they’re ineligible then we disenroll them,” said LeBlanc.
Those who are removed from the program will receive information for alternative coverage.
The state estimates as many as 350,000 could lose Medicaid coverage. LeBlanc said they will begin mailing pink letters and recipients must respond if they wish to remain enrolled and they’re still eligible.
“And what’s most important for our Medicaid members to hear and participate in making sure that state Medicaid has their contact information,” said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc said the bulk of those who will be removed is because they make too much money, or they fail to respond to letters. She said it’s vital for participants to reply to letters and update their contact information.
“And our goal here is to keep Medicaid members that are eligible on Medicaid so they can have healthcare coverage,” said LeBlanc.
The review process begins in April and remains ongoing for the next 12 months.
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