During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states are receiving additional federal funds with a requirement to keep people enrolled in Medicaid. When the continuous coverage protection is lifted, states will begin conducting renewals of Medicaid eligibility and disenrolling individuals who are no longer eligible. Through this “unwinding” process, millions of individuals, including more than six million children, are at risk for a loss of or disruption in coverage.
Key Roles for Family Physicians and Family Practices
Family physicians know how important it is for their patients to have reliable and consistent health coverage. There are multiple ways for family physicians and family practices to help ensure the children and families they care for do not lose coverage unnecessarily. On April 1, 2023, the state of Georgia must redetermine eligibility for all people who currently receive Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids® coverage.
Georgia has created a website – staycovered.ga.gov – that will be regularly updated with important news and resources.
Next Steps
Georgia Medicaid recipients can take action now. Through their Gateway account, they should make sure that their information is up to date, including phone number, address, job or income, and number of people in their household. Recipients are also encouraged to select “Email” notifications for the fastest alerts. Please review and encourage your offices to engage their Medicaid patients.
Additional Resources
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guidance
Medicaid Unwinding Plan – English
Medicaid Unwinding Plan – Spanish
Patient Informational Handout – Post In Exam Rooms