Organizations speak on Federal Public Health Emergency Program that is coming to an end

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Multiple groups and organizations came together in Charleston's West Side to inform area residents a program that has helped them through the pandemic will be ending April 1.

The Federal Public Health Emergency Program is coming to an end and as a result, Medicaid programming and the Children's Health Insurance Program that were expanded during the pandemic are coming to a close. The change will affect hundreds of thousands of West Virginians.

"We have to continue to educate the community," the Center for Popular Democracy's Imarogbe Josey said.

The Center for Popular Democracy and the State Department of Health and Human Resources were among several groups presenting a Medicaid forum in Charleston Friday, telling residents that if they receive Medicaid benefits, they will need to reapply to see if they are still eligible.

"During this time of COVID, we've experienced a lot of growth in our Medicaid roles and there are currently well over 650,000 West Virginians who are currently covered by Medicaid because we've had continuous enrollment," DHHR’s Bureau for Medical Services commissioner Cindy Beane said.

Beane reports 200,000 current members of these programs in West Virginia have not sent back any updated information, such as addresses, names or contact information, and could be at risk of losing benefits.

The agency is sending out renewal letters and informing residents of other options if they don't qualify. West Virginia is not alone. The non-profit advocacy organization Center for Popular Democracy has been traveling across the country to alert people of the change.

"About 80 million people are going to go through this process and about 15 to 17 million people might lose their coverage even though they are still eligible for Medicaid," Josey said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the federal government has required that all state Medicaid programs ensure continuous coverage. They also increased funding to Medicaid programs with the goal that no one would lose coverage during the pandemic. Now, three years later, the government is reevaluating everyone's eligibility.

"The states right now have a lot of money coming in from the IRA and there are potential sources of income, so nobody should really be losing their coverage right now," Josey said. "There is a possibility that the states can create plans and create processes to help people stay covered under Medicaid."

Medicaid and CHIP members should check mailboxes for a renewal letter.

Those who are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP - or those who have already ended their coverage - are encouraged to contact the West Virginia Navigator Program at 304-356-5834 or seek assistance online to enroll in a Federal Marketplace Health Insurance plan.