Service increases to take effect July 1, 2019

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) will soon cover more prescription drugs per month and more home health visits per year for Medicaid beneficiaries, marking the second phase of the Medicaid EASE Initiative.

First announced in December of last year, the Medicaid EASE Initiative – Enhancing Access to Services and Engagement – is a series of programmatic changes aimed at increasing Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to needed services in the most appropriate setting.

In the second phase of the EASE Initiative, DOM will increase the monthly prescription drug limit from five to six prescriptions, and increase the number of home health visits per state fiscal year from 25 to 36. Both changes take effect July 1, 2019.

With the first phase of the EASE Initiative, DOM increased the physician visit limit for beneficiaries from 12 to 16 visits per year beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

During the 2018 session of the Mississippi Legislature, lawmakers granted DOM additional flexibilities in how the program is administered. Through the EASE Initiative, DOM is phasing in targeting program improvements designed to be in the best interest of Medicaid beneficiaries as well as taxpayers.

“These increases to Medicaid services are only possible thanks to the work of our elected officials,” said Drew Snyder, executive director. “With their leadership and support, we will continue exploring new ways of optimizing value to the public to ensure a good return on investment with the taxpayer dollars entrusted to us.”

Related articles:

• Medicaid updates Voluntary 90-Day Drug Maintenance List for providers
• Medicaid EASE Initiative aims to improve access to needed services

Published April 4, 2019