DHCS Launches Health Coverage Ambassador Campaign

This week, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced it is launching a statewide effort to help Medi-Cal beneficiaries maintain their Medi-Cal coverage or be enrolled in other coverage.

During the national public health emergency (PHE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, annual reevaluation of ongoing eligibility was temporarily halted to ensure vulnerable residents had ongoing access to health coverage. When the PHE is terminated, the state will resume normal Medi-Cal eligibility operations and the annual eligibility review. As a result of that process, an estimated two to three million residents may no longer be eligible for Medi-Cal coverage. DHCS, along with partners, are engaging in a comprehensive campaign to reach beneficiaries with information about what to expect and what they need to do to keep their coverage.

DHCS, as part of its initiative, has made available a Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage toolkit and webpage to help trusted entities and individuals such as DHCS Coverage Ambassadors to push communications to Medi-Cal beneficiaries to encourage them to update their contact information with their counties to ensure they receive important information about maintaining Medi-Cal coverage.

DHCS’ effort is one of many being launched across the country as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will soon begin the process of redetermining eligibility for about 85 million people nationally who use these programs to access health coverage and care. National estimates place the number of individuals who might lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage at approximately 16 million.

Additional information from DHCS is available here.