Virginia State of Reform Health Policy Conference: Update from DMAS Nicole Pasia | May 11, 2021
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Kimsey reported that since Virginia declared a state of emergency on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid gained 291,923 new members.
“These are individuals who have a peace of mind now, to know that they have health coverage during this very critical time.”
What caused Virginia’s Medicaid member increase, which began on April 1, involves the expansion of coverage eligibility. Previously, Virginia was one of only six states that required a lawful permanent resident to have 40 quarters (approximately 10 years) of work history to qualify for Medicaid. The agency has now reduced that requirement to five years to match the federal requirement. This change expands Medicaid access for 4,000 individuals with green cards. According to the Virginia Legislative Information System, nearly $6.6 million from the general state fund and $16.6 m