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. 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!

Renewals are happening! Help us get the message out to Medicaid members that we need to hear from them!

Check out this flier for more information and please share it within your communities! It is also available in Spanish.

Check out all of KY's Communications Materials!

You can download these and use them to share information! There are KY specific fliers, CMS communications toolkit materials, and detailed information sheets here as well.

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

Update your information in kynect!

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

Visit kynect.ky.gov

-or-

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

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.

Get free local help!

Free help with your benefit application is available.

A kynector can help you!

Find a kynector - Get Local Help

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

It is time for Back-to-School planning! Make sure health care coverage is on your to-do list!

Check out this flier for more information and please share it within your communities! It is also
available in Spanish.

If you are no longer are eligible,

Check with employers to see if they offer health insurance benefits.
Enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through kynect! You may be eligible for Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) to help with premiums and out of pocket costs.

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.

Here is How to Access Your Renewal Date

Stakeholder Sessions

To help support Medicaid partners, DMS is holding virtual stakeholder forums. These monthly Stakeholder Engagement meetings are to provide information about the PHE Unwinding and Medicaid renewals. You can find the materials from those sessions here:

August Stakeholder Session Recording

August Presentation Slides

View Prior Stakeholder Sessions and Slides

Please join us on Microsoft Teams for the Monthly Stakeholder Meeting every third Thursday at 11:00 am ET.

Meeting ID: 235 003 905 881

Passcode: roy4wM

You can register for the September 21, 2023 session through this registration link.

If you have any questions for DMS that you would like for us to speak to during the upcoming monthly meeting, please submit those questions through this survey. Thank you!

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 Monthly Data Report - August Reporting Period

PHE Unwinding Audiences

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.

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 Stakeholder 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).

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?

The PHE ended on May 11, 2023. Based on a federal law , Kentucky began annual renewals in April 2023 and will continue renewals over 12 months.

For detailed information about the flexibilities that will unwind at the end of the PHE check out CMS' fact sheets.

What happens when the PHE ends?

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.

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 visitingFind 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!

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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

Appendix K will remain in effect up to six months after the end of the federal PHE, May 11, 2023, to allow a transition period as 1915(c) HCBS waivers return to normal operations. Waiver participants should ensure their contact information is up to date and to respond to all notices received from DMS related to their Medicaid renewal. For detailed information, please see the 1915(c) HCBS COVID-19 and Appendix K FAQ.

In addition to the FAQ, nursing facilities and intermediate care facility providers can access the Medicaid Renewal Report in KLOCS. 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.

On July 12, 2023, the DMS held a webinar to discuss the transition back to normal waiver operations ahead of the expiration of Appendix K on November 11, 2023. The webinar recording and presentation are now available: Recording and Presentation

The links to the recording and presentation are also be posted on the DMS COVID-19 information page.

DMS is working to update the COVID-19 and Appendix K FAQ based on the questions received on July 12. If you have general questions or comments about Appendix K and the transition back to normal waiver operations, 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!