Protect What’s Precious

St. Francis Health Urges Community to Protect Medicaid Coverage

AS THE NATIONAL COVID-19 PUBLICH HEALTH emergency officially draws to a close, St. Francis Health is urging patients and members of the community to protect their Medicaid and CHIP coverage. The public health emergency expanded Medicaid coverage eligibility for thousands and halted the disenrollment period. Those eligibility reviews are set to begin again April 1, 2023. By ensuring information is up-to-date before April 1, Medicaid eligible families can protect their access to healthcare coverage.

“Gaps in healthcare coverage can cause unnecessary and potentially dangerous delays in seeking treatment,” said St. Francis Health President Thomas Gullatt, MD. “This is set to be the largest Medicaid disenrollment event we have ever seen, so we are asking our patients to do their part to avoid losing their coverage by taking proactive steps today.”

Any gap in healthcare coverage can cause delays in seeking treatment, contributing to worsening outcomes. Current estimates put 15 million Americans and over 250,000 Louisiana residents at risk of losing their Medicaid or CHIP coverage if they don’t take action before the disenrollment period begins. Current Medicaid and CHIP recipients are encouraged to ensure their contact information is up to date, watch their mail carefully for a renewal letter and to complete any renewal form as soon as they receive it.

“Preserving access to healthcare coverage ensures a healthier future for our entire community,” said St. Francis Health VP of Mission Integration Victor Vidaurre, “As a Catholic Healthcare System committed to serving each person with dignity, many of our patients are reliant on Medicare and CHIP coverage. We urge anyone who currently qualifies for this coverage to secure their coverage today and protect what is precious.”

Medicaid and CHIP patients are urged to update their information on the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals websites before April 1, 2023. After this date, if information is not up to date or incomplete, Medicaid eligible families could lose healthcare coverage as early as July 1, 2023. Updating contact information through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals will ensure Medicaid eligible families can be reached by the state to verify their information and determine if they will remain eligible. For frequently asked questions and more information visit FMOLHS.org/Medicaid.

About St. Francis Medical Center

St. Francis Medical Center is a not-for-profit, 328-bed medical center in Monroe, Louisiana, with more than 1,800 team members committed to caring for those we serve. With an acute-care hospital, freestanding outpatient center, 25 outpatient clinics and nearly 350 physician partners, St. Francis Medical Center provides comprehensive healthcare services for a variety of medical and surgical specialties. St. Francis offers Northeast Louisiana’s only Level III NICU, Level III OB, and Level II PICU services. St. Francis Medical Center leads the region in heart and vascular services, critical care, and complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The hospital offers a designated Level III Trauma Program, Graduate Medical Education Program, Accredited Chest Pain Center and Centers of Excellence in the areas of obstetrics, bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, and breast health.