Bill would end face-to-face renewals for Medicaid

Bill would end face-to-face renewals for Medicaid

TUESDAY ACTION

Here’s a glance at some of the action Tuesday at the state Legislature:

Medicaid Policy

The Mississippi House approved legislation that would do away with a controversial administrative policy that requires Medicaid recipients to renew their coverage every year in person at a state office.

House Bill 1359 would allow recipients to renew eligibility annually by mail.

The face-to-face requirement was pushed by Gov. Haley Barbour and has been in place since January 2005.

“This is an extra barrier that is put on Medicaid beneficiaries to increase the dropout rate in the program,” said House Medicaid Committee Chairman Dirk Dedeaux, D-Perkinston.

Clarion Ledger
2/9/11