MS Stands Alone in "Face-to-Face" Requirement
Since 2005, Mississippi has been one of only a few states that required in person recertification (face-to-face) for Medicaid/SCHIP recipients. Following Kentucky's decision to eliminate the interview requirement, Mississippi is the only state that requires all families to have an in-person interview with an eligibility worker to obtain health coverage for their children and renew it.
On September 3, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced that his state would enroll over 35,000 eligible children in its Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP).
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"It is shameful and shortsighted that we are not providing children with the health care they need and deserve," Gov. Beshear said. "The steps we are taking today to get more eligible children enrolled in the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program are fiscally responsible, economically smart, and, quite simply, the right thing to do." |
Kentucky's plan to enroll eligible children includes simplifying the enrollment process by eliminating the face-to-face interview requirement to allow:
o Applicants to mail in the application
o Applicants to download, print and fill out application from the Governor's website
o Applicants to apply in-person at the local DCBS office, though this is no longer required.
Mississippi is continuing a course not only directly opposite to that of Kentucky's but every state in the nation. While other states are exploring paths to better, affordable healthcare for more of its citizens, Gov. Barbour is continuing to erect barriers to healthcare in Mississippi. Face-to-face has proven to be costly in terms of implementation, impact on the state's health rankings, and long-term care costs and outcomes.
The Division of Medicaid has testified that it has added 409 workers to operate its "face-to-face" process, nearly doubling the previous size of the program, while the cost of this massive increase was itemized at $48.5 million. Over the same period, 60,000 eligible children and adults have been cut from the Medicaid/SCHIP roles as a result of the policy.
Improving access to care will lead to a higher educated, more productive citizenry. An investment in children's healthcare will lead to reduction in chronic disease and lower medical costs for all Mississippians. In order to insure that as many children and adults as possible become covered, the State should:
- Rescind the face-to-face interview requirement
- Strengthen outreach and education about Medicaid and CHIP eligibility