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MORE PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: June 30, 2023 Medicaid Renewals are Happening Now! U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – As a result of recent U.S. Congress legislation, the continuous Medicaid enrollment has ended for all 50 states and U.S. territories. This means all individuals who receive Medicaid must recertify with the VI Department of Human Services (DHS) to continue to receive health benefits. Medicaid Members who do not recertify during their required renewal month will lose coverage and will have to reapply. DHS is completing renewals on a monthly basis and requires members to provide documentation to determine their ongoing eligibility. VIDHS Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez stated, “Our goal is to ensure that all USVI eligible Medicaid members continue to receive health coverage without interruption of service and that those who no longer qualify for Medicaid can transition to other healthcare options. Our dedicated DHS team is working hard to make sure that members are aware of the renewal process. Updating your contact information is vital to this process, so you can receive your recertification application in time to renew.” SVI Medicaid members have not been required to renew their benefits in over 5 years, so it is important for Medicaid members to undergo the renewal process with the Department of Human Services to determine their ongoing eligibility. DHS has utilized several methods to communicate to our Medicaid members, but unfortunately, due to the ending of the Public Health Emergency, which had previously prohibited states and territories from disenrolling people from Medicaid, we are now required to begin the renewal process. Those identified Medicaid members who have not completed their renewal process by June 30th, 2023, will lose their benefits and will have to re-apply. The first set of Medicaid members who will lose their coverage due to failure to renew their Medicaid benefits will occur on June 30th, 2023. DHS strongly recommends that Medicaid members follow these steps to ensure that they renew their benefits on time. • Be on the lookout for your renewal form coming via U.S. Mail approximately 45 days prior to your coverage expiration date. Once you receive the form, please complete Press Contact: Ryan Nugent Director of Communications Phone:(340)725-4924 Ryan.nugent@dhs.vi.gov Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 1303 HOSPITAL GROUND • STE 1 • ST. THOMAS, VI 00802-6722 • (340) 774-0930 3012 GOLDEN ROCK • CHRISTIANSTED, VI 00802 • (340) 718-2980 it, along with providing copies of the required verification documentation. Return your completed Medicaid Recertification Application along with required documents to DHS via U.S. Mail, email, or the drop box outside your DHS local office. • Make sure that DHS has your most current mobile phone number, mailing address, and email address, so that we can easily contact you with updates. Medicaid members can update all of their contact information by going to Update My Contact Information which is found on the USVI Department of Human Services webpage. • Be on the lookout for text messages from MedicaidNow regarding your coverage and when to recertify. If DHS has a correct mobile phone number for you, you will receive a text message alerting you to watch for your recertification form coming in the mail as well as other updates. Medicaid Director Gary Smith encourages all Medicaid members to take advantage of the Update My Contact Information capability. “Update My Contact Information is a convenient and secure way for our VI members to make sure that DHS has their most up-to-date information. This helps ensure our members don't miss any important updates about Medicaid benefits. Update My Contact Information can be accessed anytime, from anywhere, and does not require any interaction with the Department. This saves our members time and gives them the flexibility to update their information when it's most convenient for them.” The Department of Human Services (VIDHS) exists to provide social services to members in our community with diverse needs. Please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi, for more information. The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure, and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government, and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov. ####