Approved Minutes of November 15, 2023

Browse Search

MINUTES-Draft ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 15, 2023 2023. Louise Moize, Human Services Supervisor II, is supervising the Medicaid expansion team and accompanied Ms. Shewmaker to assist with questions. Some highlights of the presentation are below: • Ms. Shewmaker shared that Medicaid is great health insurance, which has no premiums and covers almost all care with no or a very small copay ($4). She added that the expansion is projected to extend Medicaid coverage to approximately 6,800 North Carolinians who were previously ineligible. • Ms. Shewmaker explained that Medicaid eligibility is traditionally reevaluated annually, and that this had been paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that annual review was reinstated over the summer, and so many people who failed to respond to the request for review have been dropped from Medicaid but remain eligible. It is expected that these people will be added right back on, and so they were not included in the total eligibility and enrollment estimates. She added that there is no enrollment period for Medicaid, and that it is possible to apply at any time during the year. • Ms. Shewmaker clarified that Medicaid expansion created a new category of eligibility and that there are already at least 20 categories. The existing categories will not change. She said that the new group's code is MXP, and individuals may be moved from group to group depending on what eligibility criteria they meet. As an example, she shared that individuals who had been on the Family Planning Medicaid (1,984 people) will be automatically converted to full Medicaid on December 1st, and a notice has been sent. • Ms. Shewmaker also shared that parents who have children without health coverage — for example, if they failed to recertify their child's Medicaid coverage — are not eligible for expanded Medicaid, which presents a concern about creating possible coverage gaps. • In response to Dr. Royce's question about refugee eligibility, Ms. Moize explained that individuals with refugee status are not subject to a waiting period to enroll in Medicaid, which is usually five years for people with qualified immigration status. • Ms. Shewmaker emphasized that people should not apply until December 1 to avoid being evaluated by the previous eligibility criteria. She also said that no one should cancel their current coverage until after they have received confirmation that they have been enrolled in Medicaid. • Ms. Shewmaker outlined the four possible ways one can apply for Medicaid (using a paper application, over the phone, in person at DSS, or online using ePass) and shared that DSS is encouraging those who can apply online to do so, as it is the method that allows for the fastest eligibility determination, requires the least human support, and has more automated ways to confirm identity and eligibility (e.g., verifying income and SSN). She added that applying online allows individuals to keep their contact information up to date, which made the conversion of Family Planning patients much smoother (DSS was able to automatically convert nearly 2,000 of the 2,100 total Family Planning patients). • In response to Dr. Rodgers' question about ensuring individuals without access to the Internet or who are not computer savvy are still able to enroll and concerns about people feeling stigmatized, Ms. Shewmaker explained that she tries to emphasize that people who can apply online should do so because of its benefits, but that there are several enrollment options available. She also added that DSS is making efforts to increase accessibility of the Internet, such as by setting up computers at libraries and by offering computers at DSS (though she said that if an individual is coming into DSS that it is preferred that they sit down with a caseworker for support). • Ms. Shewmaker added that individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who do not have access to the documentation required to apply can come to DSS and make a statement to circumnavigate some documentation requirements. She also explained that S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda&Abstracts\2023 Agenda&Abstracts/ November Page 4