ATLANTA – State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) urges constituents who are currently Medicaid recipients to confirm their eligibility for coverage. Due to recent changes at the federal level, the state is required to redetermine eligibility for approximately 2.7 million Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members.
“The ongoing redetermination process for the state’s Medicaid program is absolutely vital to the program’s sustainability,” said Rep. Houston. “The state has dedicated ample resources to making sure Medicaid members receive assistance throughout this process, but recipients and their families must do their part to make sure their coverage is not denied based on outdated information on their profile.”
Eligibility checks are currently being conducted and will continue through May 2024. However, Georgia Medicaid recipients can take action now to help ensure they remain eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Through their Gateway account, recipients should make sure that the following information is updated: phone number, address, job, income and number of people in their household. Recipients are also encouraged to opt-in for email notifications for the fastest alerts.
This redetermination process involves collecting and verifying information, including income and contact details, as well as other requested information or documents related to determining eligibility based on a member’s case. If a Medicaid member is still eligible, their coverage will be renewed. Individuals who are no longer eligible for Medicaid may qualify for other coverage options.
If a recipient is denied coverage and believes there is an error, the recipient may request a fair hearing within 30 days of the denial notice.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March 2020. As such, Georgia Medicaid members have been eligible for continuous coverage during the federal public health emergency. In December 2022, the federal government passed a federal spending bill that permits states to begin Medicaid redetermination on April 1, 2023, regardless of the public health emergency’s end date.
Medicaid members can learn more about confirming their eligibility online at https://staycovered.ga.gov/.
Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes Berrien County and portions of Cook and Tift counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1997 and currently serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism and Public Health committees.
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