News Releases

Ohio Department of Medicaid Shares Toolkit to Prepare for Medicaid Unwinding

The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) has released a toolkit to assist with the Medicaid unwinding that will follow the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The materials are intended to help organizations, including hospitals, prepare Medicaid members for potential changes to their coverage and any actions they need to take.

The state is encouraging partner organizations to focus on three messages:

1. Update your contact information. Medicaid enrollees should ensure their County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) has their current mailing address, phone number, email, or other contact information so that CDJFS will be able to reach them about their Medicaid coverage. They can update their contact information by calling 1-800-324-8680 or, if they have an Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal account, by reporting changes online at https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.
2. Check the mail. CDJFS will mail members a letter about their Medicaid coverage. This letter will also let members know if they need to complete a renewal form to see if they still qualify for Medicaid.
3. Respond to requests for information. Members should fill out all requests for information from CDJFS and return them right away to help avoid a gap in Medicaid coverage.

The ODM toolkit includes materials that support partner organizations’ communications, including social media assets, on-hold message scripts, sample text and postal mail messages, and flyers. The packet is available in six languages: Arabic, English, Nepali, Russian, Somali and Spanish.

About the Public Health Emergency

Under the PHE, states have been receiving a 6.2% increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP), the federal share of Medicaid expenses, as long as they have met certain conditions, including providing continuous eligibility for individuals who were enrolled in Medicaid on or after March 18, 2020. Upon conclusion of the PHE, eligibility redeterminations will resume.

The public health emergency was most recently extended through mid-January. Because the Biden Administration has committed to providing 60 days’ notice prior to allowing the PHE to expire, it is expected that notice would be received by Nov. 11 if another extension is not planned. If such notice is provided, states could then begin the unwinding process as early as December.