In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the President's issuance of an emergency declaration for all states, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has taken action to ensure Medicaid members have continued access to services.

Member co-pays, premiums, and contributions waived

Effective March 13, 2020, DHS is waiving all co-pays, premiums, and contributions for Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD), Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki), and Dental Wellness Plan (DWP) members until the emergency declaration is lifted.

Members of these medical assistance programs will not receive billing statements during the emergency declaration and services will continue uninterrupted.

Billing statements from DHS received by members with March, April, May, or June due dates are waived. Members who already paid their co-pay, premium or contribution for a waived month will receive a credit on their account when billing resumes. Hawki members who have automatic reoccurring payments setup, will receive a credit balance on their account when billing resumes.

Additionally, DHS has put a pause on all dis-enrollments for medical assistance programs until the emergency declaration is lifted. Members who are past due on their payment will not be dis-enrolled during this time.

Covered services available

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) has published  Informational Letter 2115-MC-FFS-CVD that addresses the covered services available and provides guidance for claims billing regarding coronavirus and COVID-19.

Additionally, the IME seeks authority to allow telehealth services to be provided, regardless of the recipient's location, for all Medicaid-covered benefits if provision of the service via telehealth is clinically feasible and appropriate. As part of this announcement, members will now be able to access their service providers using a wider range of communication tools including telephones that have audio and video capabilities, making it easier for members and providers to connect.

Frequently asked questions

Additional COVID-19 DHS resources

• COVID-19 DHS Resources
• Medicaid Member COVID-19 webpage
• Medicaid Provider COVID-19 webpage

 

Effective for applications filed on or after January 1, 2020, a 3-month retroactive Medicaid coverage period is now available to children under age 19 at the time of application and who are otherwise Medicaid eligible.

A 3-month retroactive Medicaid coverage period will continue for pregnant women (and during the 60-day period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy), infants under one year of age and applications who are residents of a nursing facility at the time of application.

The effective date of coverage for Medicaid remains unchanged and begins on the first of the month in which the application is received.

For more information, see Informational Letter 2085-MC-FFS-D.

Effective January 1, 2020, a new vendor is printing and mailing Medical Assistance Eligibility Cards ( Form 470-1911) on behalf of DHS to all newly eligible Medicaid members as well as existing members who request a replacement card.

In March 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued regulations that define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS).