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CALL YOUR SENATOR AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE FACE-TO-FACE News

Posted Thursday, March 05, 2009

CALL YOUR SENATOR AND ASK HIM/HER TO SUPPORT THE ELIMINATION OF THE FACE-TO-FACE RECERTIFICATION FOR MEDICAID/CHIP

On Thursday, the Senate may debate House Bill 105, a bill that would fund and reauthorize Mississippi’s Medicaid Program. An amendment to eliminate the face-to-face recertification requirement for children who are Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries will be offered on the Senate floor.

CALL YOUR SENATOR AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE FACE-TO-FACE

Call Your Senator at (601) 359-3770

Mississippi is the only state that requires all families to recertify in-person with an eligibility worker to maintain health coverage for their children. Since the implementation of the face-to-face reenrollment policy Mississippi has spent more money to enroll fewer children into the Medicaid and CHIP programs. The only results of this in-person interview requirement have been millions in new administrative costs and thousands of children being left without healthcare.

Rise in Administrative Costs:
 From 2003-2007 Medicaid administrative costs increased by $80 Million
 From 2003-2007 CHIP administrative costs increased by 150%

Decrease in Enrollees
 From 2003-2007 there were 28,800 fewer Medicaid enrollees
 From 2003-2007 there was an 11% drop in CHIP enrollment

Under the recently passed Federal CHIP reauthorization, elimination of face to face interviews is one of the things states can do to earn bonus payments. Mississippi stands to leave millions in federal funds behind by continuing our face-to-face policy.

An investment in children’s healthcare will lead to reduction in chronic disease and lower medical costs for all Mississippians. In order to ensure that as many children as possible become covered, the State should rescind the face-to-face requirement

WE NEED YOU!

Tomorrow will be an opportunity for you to be heard on behalf of the thousands of Mississippi children without health coverage as a result of face-to-face

Call Your Senator at (601) 359-3770