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During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) made sure that all Medicaid beneficiaries kept their coverage. But DMS has restarted annual renewals for Medicaid members. You may be at risk of losing Medicaid coverage if we cannot reach you. You should update your contact information as soon as possible and keep it updated so Kentucky Medicaid is able to reach you when it is your time to renew!​​​ 

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Below are some quick steps you can take to ensure continued health coverage for yourself and your family. 


 Number 1 inside a purple circle​  ​​Update your information in kynect! 

  ​To update your mailing address, phone number, email, and other contact information:

Visit kynect.ky.gov

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Call kynect at 855-4kynect (855) 459-6328

Number 2 inside an blue circle​  ​​Please Respond!

If you received a Medicaid Renewal Packet or Request for Information please respond.

Even if circumstances have changed we still need to hear from you!

Coverage can be reinstated if you missed your due date and are still eligible. 

 

​​​​Number 3 inside a green circle  Get free local help!
Free help with your benefit application is available. 
A kynector can help you! 

Find a kynector - Get Local Help​

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Number 4 inside an orange circle  No longer qualify for Medicaid?
​If you no longer qualify for Medicaid, you can still get help from kynect!
You may be eligible to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan with Financial Assistance to help pay for premiums, co-pays and more.
 
A licensed insurance agent can help you at no cost to you!

Find an Insurance Agent - Get Local Help​
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Medicaid renewals resumed in May, but the PHE is still in effect and therefore all the flexibilities that were put in place for providers and members remain in place. When the PHE ended on May 11, 2023, some of these flexibilities were discontinued (or unwound) and some continued based on state policy changes. Information on the impact to providers and community organizations is included below.



Medicaid Monthly Virtual Forums

 To help support Medicaid partners, DMS is holding Medicaid Monthly Virtual Forums. These monthly forums are to provide information about the PHE Unwinding and Medicaid renewals. ​You can find the materials from those sessions here:

November Virtual Forum Recording
 

​​​​​​​​November Presentation Slides​​​


View Prior Webinars from DMS​​​


​​​​​​​Please join us on Zoom for the Medicaid Monthly Virtual Forum every third Thursday at 11:00 am ET. 

​You can register for the next one through this registration link​​​​​​.​​​

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​​​Kentucky PHE Plans and Reports

Through the PHE Unwinding, Kentucky will be prioritizing transparency across all operations and progress through the unwinding. The following materials will provide insight to all operational plans and up-to-date information on our progress through the 12-month unwinding period. Additional reports will be added to this section as they are available.

Kentucky Unwinding Approach March 2023

Kentucky PHE Flexibilities Tracker 

Updated Kentucky PHE Flexibilities Tracker – October 2023​

Updated Kentucky PHE Flexibilities Tracker – January 2024

Updated Kentucky PHE Flexibilities Tracker - May 2024

Renewal Redistribution Report

System Artifact Report

System Testing Report - May 2023

Kentucky Medicaid Renewals Data Snapshot​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Most Recent CMS Monthly Data Reports

    ​​​PHE Unwinding Audiences

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    This information will be updated as regularly as possible, with specific actions and resources called out to support all partners through the PHE Unwinding.

    If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our Call Center or kynectors directly.


    For the most up-to-date information please follow DMS on social media

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    ​Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the PHE and the Medicaid renewal process. In addition, the KY Unwinding Partner FAQ document​​ provides further detail. It may be helpful to take a moment to review these questions before calling the kynect helpline for assistance. If you do not see an answer to your question, please call the helpline at 855-4kynect (855-459-6328). 

    All Medicaid members will go through a renewal of their eligibility for Medicaid. These renewals began in May of 2023 and will continue through April of 2024.​ Those who are determined to be eligible will continue to receive Medicaid coverage. Those who are determined to be ineligible for coverage will be removed from Medicaid and connected to alternative coverage options in the state.​

    If your account information is not current in kynect, your Medicaid coverage could be at risk so make sure to update it by visiting kynect.ky.gov or calling Kynect at 855-4kynect (855-459-6328).
    Members will receive a notice about 90 days before their renewal date. If your information is correct in kynect, you do not need to take any action until you are contacted about your renewal.

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    Medicaid Member Information

    The most important step to take now is to make sure your address is up-to-date in kynect. Updating your contact information on file (email, home address) will ensure timely updates and help keep your coverage. Opt in for email/SMS nudges for immediate alerts.

    You will be notified of your renewal date when it is about 60 days away – keep an eye out for any communications from Medicaid to stay on top of changes.  The KY PHE Renewal Pathways Brief​ outlines potential timelines for renewals and shows examples of notices you may receive in the mail when it is your time to renew. ​You can also find your renewal date by looking in kynect and following these instructions.

    If you receive a Renewal Packet for a Request for Information, please be sure to respond! Even if your circumstances have changed, we need to hear from you and you must act to maintain coverage. ​

    If you lose Medicaid coverage, don't worry. There are many alternative options and you will be given next steps to enroll. Check out the Qualified Health Plan  and other options that may be available to you.

    Individuals who have turned 65 since January 2020 and have not enrolled in Medicare benefits yet, check out this resource and enroll in Medicare today during a Special Enrollment Period.


    Medicaid Provider Information

    To stay up to date on the changes that are coming, please review the PHE Flexibilities Provider Information Brief​. 

    Providers are also encouraged to work with your patients to understand the Medicaid renewal process and what actions they may need to take. The Provider Renewals Guidance Document outlines information that you can share to support your patients through Medicaid renewals. To help support your members, providers can access member renewal data in KYHealthNet. Check out this resource to learn how to access your patient's renewal date information.

    Check out this flier​ we shared for providers to keep on hand for patients or post in their offices!  Also, available in Spanish​.

    Also, DMS is required to bring providers in compliance with the revalidation requirement once the PHE is lifted. If you are a provider whose revalidation due date occurred during the PHE and as a result did not submit a revalidation to Kentucky Medicaid, we now encourage you to complete and submit a revalidation. This will allow Kentucky Medicaid to review and process your revalidation in a timely manner and in accordance with federal guidance.

    Failure to submit a maintenance application to remain enrolled in Kentucky Medicaid beyond the PHE will result in your enrollment ending and prevention from billing to Kentucky Medicaid, so act now.

    Please see  the KY Medicaid Revalidation Newsletter  to learn more about provider validations.


    ​Waiver Participant and Provider Information

    During the PHE, Kentucky implemented changes to waiver policies through Appendix K flexibilities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved all six 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver applications with an effective date of May 1, 2024. This means any Appendix K policy not included permanently in the amended waiver applications ends on May 1, 2024.

    To help partners understand which policies will end and which will continue, we recorded two webinars. One webinar is for waiver providers. The other is for waiver participants.

    To learn more, Check out the Appendix K Waiver Update One Pager for detailed information, the Notice of Appendix K End Date, and the Model II Waiver Application Approval notice.

    For further information, and to see all amended waivers, please visit the Division of Long-Term Services and Supports website .

    In addition to the resources about waivers, nursing facilities and intermediate care facility providers can access the Medicaid Renewal Report in KLOCS to support members through their renewals. Please see the KLOCS Provider Medicaid Renewal Report Quick Reference Guide to learn how to access a report of Medicaid Eligible Individuals who are due for renewal.

    DMS will be continually updating the COVID-19 and Appendix K FAQ​. If you have general questions or comments about Appendix K, please email those to MedicaidPublicComment@ky.gov. If you have case- or situation-specific questions, please contact the 1915(c) Waiver Help Desk at (844) 784-5614 or 1915cWaiverHelpDesk@ky.gov.  

    Community Partner Organizations

    The PHE Unwinding will impact individuals receiving Medicaid services and direct service workers providing those services. We ask that you stay up to date on any of the upcoming PHE Unwinding changes that will impact these groups.

    Please also feel free to leverage the communication materials  included on this page to share with your teams and audiences. Feel free to reach out to our agency to support any ongoing efforts you are undertaking!


    CHFS Agencies

    Multiple internal resources will be available for our Medicaid team. There will be a DMS SharePoint that you can use to access materials and information for various audiences about upcoming changes. This will be coming soon!​






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