End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Parkland Providers

Recertification & What to Know

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE) on January 27, 2020. Following the PHE announcement, a law was passed that allowed recipients to automatically renew and maintain their existing Medicaid coverage (continuous Medicaid). Based on the new federal law, continuous Medicaid ended on May 11, 2023, and eligible recipients must resume the standard renewal process that was in place prior to the PHE. As a result, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) expects to see a 20% decrease in Medicaid recipients statewide.

Parkland Provider Network

To unwind continuous coverage, Texas HHSC will stagger Medicaid redeterminations between May and December 2023. The goal is to:

  1. Maintain coverage for eligible individuals and reduce churn.
  2. Prioritize redeterminations for those most likely to be ineligible or to be eligible for another program.
  3. Reduce the risk of overwhelming the eligibility system or workforce during the unwinding period.
  4. Establish a sustainable renewal schedule for subsequent years.

Support Materials

Parkland Community Health Plan has created a variety of materials to support our providers and members throughout this transition and unwinding period. Available materials include but are not limited to: 
Flyers—English and Spanish (Double-Sided)

Convenient take-away materials that can be easily distributed in large quantities and referred to in the future.

Download Full and Half-Page Flyers

Posters—Dual Language

For display in common spaces—waiting areas or patient rooms. Posters quickly draw attention, convey key information, and make a lasting impression on the reader.

Download 17 x 11 Poster

Rack Cards—English and Spanish (Double-Sided)

Compact, grab-and-go material used to deliver short, important messages. Rack cards can fit easily in a purse or pocket.

Download 4 x 9 Card

End of PHE FAQs—English and Spanish (Double-Sided)

Informational flyer answering questions commonly asked by patients regarding renewals and the end of the PHE.

Download Patient FAQs

Staff Talking Points & FAQs (Internal Use Only)

For Internal Use Only

Quick Reference Guide for Office Staff—including general talking points and template responses to commonly asked patient questions.

Download Staff FAQs and Talking Points

Digital Resources (Internal Use Only)

For Internal Use Only

Suite of materials to support communication to patients regarding renewals and the end of the PHE.

The End of Continuous Coverage Ambassador Toolkit created by Texas HHSC is also available for use.

Medicaid and CHIP Flexibilities with COVID-19

Be sure to check the PCHP Provider Portal, the Provider News & Information page, and the TMHP COVID-19 page for more information, and read any emails you get from HHSC.

Any changes to Medicaid and CHIP services will be posted here and sent out through HHSC’s standard communication channels.

Please visit Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership’s (TMHP) Recent News for the latest Medicaid and CHIP flexibilities that have been extended.

The full list of COVID-19 flexibility updates can be found here.

Other Helpful Provider Resources:

TMHP COVID-19 Resources

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)