April 25, 2016 Take Charge Plus, Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection enrollees will soon transition to Medicaid expansion benefitsEnrollees need up-to-date address to receive benefits

Baton Rouge, La., Apr 25, 2016 - The Louisiana Department of Health is encouraging enrollees of two of its Medicaid programs to update any out-of-date addresses to ensure their transition to full coverage benefits under expanded Medicaid when those services go live on July 1. Enrollees of the Take Charge Plus and Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection programs do not need to apply to enroll in the expanded Medicaid program and be eligible for full benefits, but address information must be current.

Ruth Kennedy, deputy Medicaid director and leader of the expansion project, said, "We will handle all of the work to move active Take Charge Plus and Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection (GNOCHC) enrollees into Louisiana's new, expanded Medicaid program. But a current mailing address is key to getting enrolled for new expanded Medicaid."

Enrollees of the Take Charge Plus and GNOCHC programs whose mailing addresses are not current are advised to visit www.dhh.la.gov/MyMedicaid or call (888) 342-6207 to update their address information by April 28. In early May, LDH will mail letters to Take Charge Plus and GNOCHC enrollees notifying them of the change to full benefits through Medicaid expansion. LDH will end the Take Charge Plus and GNOCHC coverage for any returned mail without an active forwarding address. Those individuals will have to reapply to be considered for any form of Medicaid coverage.

Take Charge Plus currently provides family-planning and related health services for individuals that meet income requirements. Services include wellness visits, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, prescriptions and more. Any Take Charge Plus enrollee who meets requirements for expanded Medicaid will automatically be enrolled.

GNOCHC provides health insurance coverage to uninsured adults aged 19 to 64 at participating clinics in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, though some services provided under Medicaid, such as prescriptions and emergency room visits, are not covered. GNOCHC will terminate services on June 30, and all its enrollees with current mailing addresses will automatically be covered under expanded Medicaid on July 1.

Health care providers with patients from either of these programs are encouraged to inform their patients of the need to update any out-of-date addresses. Resources to aid providers in doing so can be accessed at www.dhh.louisiana.gov/tcpgnochc.

All Take Charge Plus and GNOCHC enrollees that transition to full benefits through Medicaid expansion will receive their services through a Bayou Health managed care organization. Providers that wish to continue serving these patients are encouraged to contract with one or more of the Bayou Health managed care plans. For more information, visit http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/1065.

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents.To learn more about LDH, visit www.dhh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account and Facebook.