Three years ago, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency that provided critical support and health care for Tennessee residents and their families. During the PHE, nearly all existing and new Medicaid enrollees were able to enroll and stay covered regardless of changes in eligibility or status. That is about to change.

Recent legislation passed by Congress separated Medicaid renewals from the PHE. What does this mean exactly? Every state, including Tennessee, will resume determining an individual’s Medicaid eligibility this year. TennCare, the state of Tennessee’s managed Medicaid agency, estimates that thousands of current Medicaid enrollees will no longer be eligible as a result of Medicaid renewal, also known as Medicaid redetermination.

As Medicaid renewal resumes, now is the time to prepare.