Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Medicaid Updates and Extensions

• The New York State Department of Health (SDOH) has authorized storm related extensions of Medicaid renewals, closings and responses to RFIs (requests for information) in the following counties:
  
  
  
  • NYC counties
  • Nassau
  • Suffolk
  • Westchester
  • Putnam
  • Rockland
  
  
  In general, renewals have been extended two months so that those coming up for renewal in November will be extended until the end of January.  Counties have asked for some staggering of the renewals to reduce volume in any one month, which could affect the length of extensions.  NYC has asked for the same treatment for December renewals. Westchester has only requested November extensions.  As mentioned in the last email, October closing notices have been suspended so that renewals not yet completed in October (or approaching closure for lack of response) will be extended as well.
  
  
• For new applicants, the time to respond to Requests for Information (RFIs) will be extended by a week.
  
  
• Renewals for Child Health Plus (CHP) have been extended two months statewide.
  
  
• List of pharmacies that are open and doing deliveries in New York City andLowerHudsonValley
  
  
• PHE Declaration and Section 1135 Waiver for New York.
  
  
• Because of Hurricane Sandy, Fee for Service Medicaid is implementing the following processes until the State ofEmergencyhas ended. The State ofEmergencywill be determined by the Local District and the State. 

1. During the State of Emergency, Fee for Service Medicaid will relax prior authorization requirements for the provision of urgent services.
   
   
2. Providers will not be required to request authorization to treat enrolled beneficiaries for the provision of urgent services and will be reimbursed accordingly.
   
   
3. In the event that telecommunication failures prevent access to the Medicaid Eligibility Verification System, the Medicaid ID card will suffice as eligibility verification. If access to the eMedNY system prevents real time claim adjudication, pharmacies should dispense emergency supplies as necessary. Questions should be referred to theCSCCallCenterat 800-343-9000.