Medicaid Unwind RHC Taskforce

Thank you to all RHC’s who participated in the Medicaid Unwind Taskforce with Louisiana Rural Health Collective!

On May 1st 2023, Louisiana Medicaid resumed eligibility reviews for Medicaid recipients to determine if they are eligible to continue receiving Medicaid benefits. Recipients who do not respond to Medicaid’s eligibility review requests will have their coverage terminated. Eligibility rules were changed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included stopping closures for most Medicaid members.

  • Overview

    The Louisiana Rural Health Collective (LaRHC) was contracted by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to assist in the Medicaid Unwind project to retain Medicaid coverage for eligible individuals in rural Louisiana through forming the Medicaid Unwind-RHC Taskforce. As a newly formed statewide association for Rural Health Clinics (RHC), part of LaRHC’s overall mission was to preserve and expand the RHC program in our State and ensure a sustainable future for all existing and future RHCs.

  • Objective

    LaRHC’s goal for this project was to retain Medicaid coverage for rural populations in Louisiana by providing funding, outreach materials, equipment, and support to each RHC in the state to target their Medicaid patient populations and provide outreach and assistance to patients with updating their contact information and submitting renewal applications to Medicaid, as well as create a long term solution for obtaining and retaining coverage for eligible individuals by certifying RHCs as Medicaid Application Centers.

  • Opportunity

    Here’s how LaRHC helped Rural Health Clinics:

    ✔️ $15,000 funding for each Rural Health Clinic (RHC).

    ✔️ Upfront payment of $3,000 upon joining, followed by $1,000 monthly payments.

    ✔️ Free outreach materials, equipment, and support – no deductions from your fund.

    ✔️ Opportunity to become a certified Medicaid Application Center through LaRHC's fast-track certification process.

  • There are 224 RHCs spread across Louisiana’s most vulnerable rural communities, and a sample collected from 10 RHCs estimates an average of 1,800 active Medicaid patients served at each facility.

  • RHCs treat over 50% of Louisiana's total Medicaid population, or about 403,000 unique patients of the current 764,285 individuals enrolled in Medicaid, making RHCs crucial to the success of this project. 

Outcomes of the Medicaid Unwind Taskforce

The LaRHC team traveled to all 224 RHCs in the state. This extensive outreach ensured that every clinic received the opportunity for support and resources to effectively assist Medicaid patients.

168 RHCs were onboarded with the Medicaid Unwind Taskforce. These clinics have been integral in extending our reach and enhancing the delivery of Medicaid services in underserved areas.

187,926 Medicaid members have been directly assisted by RHCs onboarded with the Medicaid Unwind Taskforce. Services provided include Medicaid applications, contact updates, and self-service portal creation, ensuring beneficiaries have the support they need.

43 RHCs have been assisted by LaRHC to become Certified Medicaid Application Centers to directly assist individuals with Medicaid applications.

12 events were hosted or participated in by RHCs, demonstrating our commitment to community engagement and education. These events have been crucial for informing and assisting the public on Medicaid-related matters.

Key Messages for Medicaid Members:

We want everyone who is eligible for Medicaid to maintain their coverage.

  • If you have not received a Medicaid Eligibility Review pink letter from Medicaid or the Louisiana Department of Health by April 1, please contact Medicaid right away. It means we do not have your current contact information on file.

  • Share all contact information including: your mailing address, phone number, cell phone number and email address, so you receive important information about your health insurance coverage.

    If you do not provide the information requested you could lose your health insurance coverage even if you are still eligible.  

    • Members can visit Healthy.la.gov to learn how to update their contact information. Ways to make changes to their contact information include:

    • Logging on to MyMedicaid.la.gov

    • Emailing MyMedicaid@la.gov

    • Calling their health plan on the number on their ID card

    • Calling Medicaid’s Customer Service Center at 1-888-342-6207. Assistance is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    • In-person help is available at all regional Medicaid offices. For the nearest office, visit www.ldh.la.gov/medicaidoffices