March 09, 2023 - Harrisburg, PA
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Acting Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys, and Pennie® Director of External Affairs Chachi Angelo today reminded Pennsylvanians of the upcoming end of pandemic flexibilities for Medicaid and CHIP coverage, and affirmed the Shapiro Administration's commitment to helping Pennsylvanians stay covered when federal changes to Medicaid renewals take effect on April 1, 2023. "Knowing we have health coverage or insurance gives the peace of mind and dignity that we can get the care we need - and deserve - when we need it," said Acting Secretary Arkoosh. "We need to make sure that any Pennsylvanians who receives health coverage through the state knows about these upcoming changes to our Medicaid and CHIP programs so they can protect themselves and stay covered." Starting in 2020, the federal public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to continue to remain enrolled in Medicaid even if they became ineligible based on regular eligibility criteria, except in rare circumstances. This is also known as the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. In December 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 into law, which effectively ends the continuous coverage requirement on March 31, 2023. Beginning April 1, 2023, all Pennsylvanians must once again return to completing an annual renewal when it is due in order to maintain Medicaid or CHIP coverage. List of Speakers:Representative Dave Madsen, 104th DistrictDHS Acting Secretary Dr. Val ArkooshPA Insurance Dept. Acting Commissioner Mike HumphreysPennie® Director of External Affairs Chachi AngeloJacqueline Keys, Hamilton Health Center Assister