This newsletter is made possible with support of the

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services 
  

Health Coverage Available for Former Foster Care Youth

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted a provision creating a new Medicaid covered group for former foster youth until age 26 became effective January 2014.  All former foster care youth who were in state foster care in Virginia and receiving Medicaid on their 18th birthday are eligible for Medicaid in Virginia.  There is NO income requirement in order for a former foster youth to be eligible for Medicaid coverage. 

 

Young adults who age out of foster care services are at high risk
for a number of negative outcomes; including homelessness, incarceration, and substance abuse. Enrollment into Medicaid will ensure that Virginia's most vulnerable young adult population will have access to a variety of comprehensive health care services, including mental health and behavioral counseling, substance abuse counseling, preventive medical care and treatment, dental care, and prescription medications.

 

If you know a young adult who was formerly in foster care and who may be eligible, please encourage him/her to apply online through CommonHelp (www.commonhelp.virginia.gov), Cover Virginia
(1-855-242-8282) or through their local department of social services. Click here  for more information, including covered
services and promotional flyers.

 

Restoration of FAMIS MOMS and Eligibility
Increase for Plan First

The FAMIS MOMS program, which stopped accepting new enrollees
as of December 31, 2013, will be open to new enrollees again soon.  The effective date is subject to CMS approval.  FAMIS MOMS provides health insurance coverage for uninsured pregnant women with household incomes under 200% FPL. 

 

The Plan First program currently provides birth control and family planning services for men and women with incomes up to 100% FPL.  At the same time that FAMIS MOMS is restored, eligibility for Plan First will increase to 200% FPL.  For more information on Plan First, please visit their website here. 


To apply for coverage in FAMIS MOMS or Plan First, after the programs are restored, applicants can apply online at CommonHelp (www.commonhelp.virginia.gov), over the phone via the Cover Virginia Call Center (1-855-242-8282) or mail a paper application to their local department of social services. 

 

New Ways to Renew Medicaid and FAMIS Coverage

There are now two new ways to renew coverage in FAMIS Plus (Medicaid) and FAMIS. Enrollees will receive a paper renewal form
in the mail when it is time to renew. Instead of completing the paper form and returning it to the local DSS, enrollees now have the option of calling the Cover Virginia Call Center at 1-855-242-8282 to renew over the phone, or going on to www.CommonHelp.virginia.gov  to renew their coverage online.

 

MCO Updates

MajestaCare notified the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) in August of its intent to withdraw from the Western, Roanoke and Alleghany regions, effective November 30, 2014. 
DMAS and MajestaCare are currently working together to accomplish a smooth transition. This affects approximately 11,000 FAMIS and Medicaid enrollees living in: Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Bedford County, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Buckingham, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin County, Giles, Grayson Greene, Henry, Highland, Lee, Montgomery, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke County, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe, Bedford City, Bristol, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Covington, Galax, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Martinsville, Norton, Radford, Roanoke City, Salem, Staunton, Waynesboro.

 

MajestiCare members residing in these localities will continue to be enrolled in MajestaCare until November 30, 2014.  Letters will be mailed to MajestaCare members notifying them that they can choose a new MCO.  The letter will include a comparison chart showing the different MCOs in their area. Members must call the Managed Care Help Line at 1-800-643-2273 (or Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282
if enrolled in FAMIS) by November 18, 2014, to change their health plan (MCO). If they do not call by November 18th, the members will automatically be assigned to a new MCO, effective December 1, 2014. DMAS is encouraging members to change plans now.

 

New Profile of Virginia's Uninsured Now Available

Each year, VHCF contracts with the Urban Institute to produce a Profile of Virginia's Uninsured. The Profile provides a deep analysis
of the most recent Census data about Virginia's uninsured, including regional rates of uninsurance, demographics, work status and much more. There are still 68,000 uninsured children under 200% FPL.  These data may come in handy as organizations work hard to reach those uninsured children who are eligible for coverage and remain unenrolled. To access the report, click here.

 

Fall SignUpNow Trainings

VHCF has scheduled five SignUpNow trainings for the fall.  These
free, comprehensive workshops cover the State-Sponsored Health Insurance Programs for Children and Pregnant Women and will take place in the following cities in October and November:

  • Radford
  • Loudoun
  • Charlottesville
  • Norfolk
  • Richmond

Click here for more information on these free comprehensive workshops and to register. 

 

If you are unable to attend these workshops, click here to complete the online, on-demand SignUpNow training modules. 

 

FAMIS Program Enrollment as of September 1, 2014
(most recent data available):

  • 62,827 children are enrolled in FAMIS (including 239 in FAMIS Select);
  • 516,568 children are enrolled in FAMIS Plus (including the CHIP Medicaid Expansion);
  • 83 pregnant women are enrolled in FAMIS MOMS;
  • 17,205 pregnant women are enrolled in Medicaid for Pregnant Women; and
  • 66,415 men and women are enrolled in Plan First.