Medicaid Public Health Emergency Unwinding

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) made sure that all Medicaid beneficiaries kept their coverage. DMS stopped all annual renewals. But soon, DMS will begin 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!

Please update your information as soon as possible!

Visit kynect.ky.gov or call kynect at 855-4kynect (855-459-6328) to update your mailing address, phone number, email and other contact information.

Kentucky Medicaid will then be able to reach you when it is your time to renew!

Currently, the PHE is still in effect and therefore all the flexibilities remain in place. When the federal government ends the PHE, they will provide states with 60 days' notice. At that time, some of these flexibilities will be discontinued, or unwound, and some will continue. Information on the impact to providers and community organizations is included below.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the PHE. Review these before calling the kynect helpline with any questions. If you do not see the answer, call the helpline at 855-4kynect (855-459-6328).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PHE and what does it mean for my Medicaid?

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE). During the PHE, Medicaid agencies were required to continue health care coverage for members, even if their eligibility changed, they failed to update their account information or did not submit the required paperwork.

When will the PHE end?

Federal Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced in January 2023 that the PHE is once again extended until April 2023. The extension allows Kentuckians receiving Medicaid to maintain their health coverage. States will be given a 60-day notice before the PHE ends. Regardless of when this PHE ends, due to a new federal law, Kentucky will begin annual renewals in April 2023 and will continue renewals over 12 months.

What happens when the PHE ends?

Kentucky Medicaid will notify members when the PHE ends. But all Medicaid members will go through a renewal of their eligibility for Medicaid when Kentucky resumes annual renewals in April 2023. 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.

What can I do to keep my Medicaid?

Taking the following steps may help you keep your Medicaid coverage:

Update your contact information, including your address, phone number and email at kynect.ky.gov or by calling 855-4kynect (855-459-6328)
Answer all requests for information if you get a letter from Kentucky Medicaid
Report changes to your household to kynect, including if someone becomes pregnant, someone moves in or out of your home, changes to income, or anything else that may impact your Medicaid eligibility

What if I am no longer Medicaid-eligible?

Losing health coverage, including Medicaid coverage, is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), which allows an individual to enroll in a kynect plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period. Consider your health care needs and plan in case your Medicaid coverage ends. kynect offers Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) that are designed to be affordable, quality coverage. Payment assistance is available to those who qualify.

Visit kynect.ky.gov or call kynect at 855-4kynect (855-459-6328) to see all your options. There are people in your community who can help, too. Find a local Department for Community Based Services office by visiting Find a DCBS Office, or a kynector or licensed insurance agent at Find kynectors.

Kentucky is focused on ensuring all applications received during the PHE are processed; those self-attested enrollments are verified; that members are renewed or redetermined appropriately and providers are up to date as credentialed Medicaid providers. Find relevant resources below for you and your organization to stay on top of the changes and make sure you are taking any steps necessary as the PHE unwinds or as renewals start!

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

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

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 90 days away – keep an eye out for any communications from Medicaid to stay on top of changes.

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

Most notably, 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.

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 chnages. This will be coming soon!

Communications Materials

If you should need any materials to share with your customers or partners, please feel free to leverage the following resources, developed and approved by Kentucky Medicaid.