News

COVID-19 Update from Alabama Medicaid

12/28/2023

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) made important changes during the COVID-19 public health emergency to better serve recipients and to assist providers in our state. 

Medicaid recipients were mailed a letter in February to let them know that the renewal form must be returned when their renewal time comes. During COVID, recipients didn’t have to renew to keep their Medicaid. But that changed April 1st, and now recipients have to renew again. 

Recipients will get their renewal letter in the mail at their normal renewal time. That is usually one year from the date they signed up for Medicaid. If they don’t remember this date, they can contact the ACHN in their region, their local District Office, or they can call the recipient call center phone:  1-800-362-1504.

The following links are provided to help Medicaid recipients stay informed about these changes.

Recipients Information

For information about the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, visit the recipient COVID information page

Providers Information

Alabama Medicaid released the following information for providers in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Agency complied the information below for your convenience:

  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Lab Testing Procedure Codes – 3/13/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage – 3/18/20 
  • ALERT:   Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19 – 3/18/20  
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage for Optometrists - 3/20/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Modifies Recipient Signature Requirement during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/20/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Will Temporarily Lift the EPSDT Referral Requirement - 3/25/20
  • ALERT:   Temporary Changes to ACHN Care Coordination, PCP/DHCP Referrals, and Medical Management Meetings - 3/26/20
  • ALERT:   Waiver for Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASRR) Level I and Level  II Assessments for 30 Days - 3/26/20
  • ALERT:   Temporary Changes to Allow Reimbursement for Telephonic Postpartum Visits - 3/27/20
  • ALERT:   Temporarily Allowing Speech and Occupational Therapy Services Through Telemedicine During COVID-19 Emergency - 3/27/20
  • ALERT:   Waiver for Medicaid Copayments During COVID-19 Emergency - 3/27/20   
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Recipients to Remain Eligible During COVID-19 Emergency - 3/31/20
  • ALERT:   Waiver for Ambulance Providers During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/1/20
  • ALERT:   Governor Ivey - Small Business Assistance During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/1/20
  • ALERT:  AL Medicaid Temporarily Allowing Physical Therapy Services Through Telemedicine During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/3/20
  • ALERT:   Expiration Date Extension for COVID-19 Emergency - 4/7/20
  • ALERT:   Notice of Increased Per Diem Rate and One-time Cleaning Fee Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities Related to COVID-19 Health Emergency - 4/15/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Temporarily Extends Inpatient Stays for Recipients in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic - 4/16/20
  • ALERT:   Hospice Claims Reprocessed Due to Increased Per Diem Rate for Nursing Facilities Related to COVID-19 Health Emergency - 4/24/20
  • ALERT:   Additional Extension for COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date - 4/24/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Authorizes Telemedicine for Prenatal Visits During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/30/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Additional Procedure Code Coverage via Telemedicine - 5/1/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Updates Policies for Well Child Screenings and Other Services - 5/8/20
  • ALERT:   Additional Laboratory Testing and Specimen Collection Codes for Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 5/12/20
  • ALERT:   PDN Providers COVID-19 Guidance - 5/14/20
  • ALERT:   Adjusting Hospice Claims Reprocessed Due to Increase Per Diem Rate (COVID-19) - 5/15/20
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extend Additional Behavioral Health Procedure Code Coverage via Telemedicine - 5/21/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to June 30 - 5/22/20
  • ALERT:   HRSA Provides Reimbursement for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment for Uninsured Individuals - 5/29/20
  • ALERT:   Additional Laboratory Testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 5/29/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Eligibility and Testing FAQs for Providers and Recipients - 6/3/20
  • ALERT:   HHS Announces Cares Act Provider Relief Fund Distribution - 6/11/20
  • ALERT:   Webinar for Provider Relief Fund Medicaid & CHIP Distribution - 6/19/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to July 31 - 6/19/20
  • ALERT:   Extension of PCMH Recognition Attestation Deadline due to COVID-19 - 6/22/20
  • ALERT:   Dental Changes Related to COVID-19 Emergency - 6/22/20
  • ALERT:   20% Increase in Per Diem Rates for COVID-19 Related Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Stays - 6/26/20
  • ALERT:   HRSA Webinar for Providers Applying for the Provider Relief Fund - 7/7/20
    (Click here for HRSA Tip Sheet)
  • ALERT:   Financial Accounting for COVID-19 on the Alabama Medicaid Cost Report - 7/10/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to August 31 - 7/17/20
  • ALERT:   Telemedicine Origination Site Facility Fee for Outpatient Clinic Services - 7/21/20
  • ALERT:   HHS Extends Deadline to Apply for Federal Provider Relief Funds - 7/22/20
  • ALERT:   HRSA Webinar for Providers Applying for the  Federal Provider Relief Fund - 7/24/20 
  • ALERT:   HHS Extends Deadline to Apply for Federal Provider Relief Funds to August 28 - 8/5/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to September 30 - 8/6/20
  • ALERT:   HHS Reopened the Portal to Apply for Federal Provider Relief Funds - 8/17/20
  • ALERT:   Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Program Updates Related to COVID - 8/19/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Rapid Test Procedure Code 87426 - 8/20/20
  • ALERT  HHS Extends Deadline to Apply for Federal Provider Relief Funds to September 13, 2020 - 9/1/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to October 31 - 9/10/20
  • ALERT  COVID-19 Relief Grants for Health Care and Emergency Response Providers - 9/28/20
  • ALERT:   HHS Announces $20 Billion in New Funding for Phase 3 of Provider Relief Funds - 10/2/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to November 30 - 10/7/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Testing for Uninsured Individuals - 11/3/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to December 31, 2020 - 11/4/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to January 31, 2021 - 12/4/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information -12/11/20
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 12/29/20
  • ALERT:   Information on Billing for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 1/11/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to February 28, 2021 - 1/14/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to March 31, 2021 - 2/12/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Testing Procedure Codes - 2/16/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion - 2/16/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to April 30, 2021 - 3/11/21
  • ALERT:   Reimbursement Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration - 3/18/21

  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 3/18/21
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 3/24/21
  • ALERT:   Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19 - 4/14/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to May 31, 2021 - 4/16/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 4/16/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to June 30, 2021 - 5/11/21
  • ALERT:   Changes to ACHN DHCP Selection Referral Process - 5/18/21
  • ALERT:   Information on Billing for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines (for Non-Pharmacy Providers)  - 6/4/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to July 31, 2021 - 6/14/21
  • ALERT:   Changes to Body Mass Index Requirement during Public Health Emergency - 7/14/21
  • ALERT:   Provider Desk and Onsite Record Reviews - 7/16/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to August 31, 2021 - 7/16/21
  • ALERT:   EPSDT and PCP Referral Requirements - 7/27/21
  • ALERT:   Onsite Cost Report Audits - 7/28/21
  • ALERT:   Synagis® Criteria for Summer 2021 (as part of the 2020-2021 Season); and the Use of Synagis® in the 2021–2022 Season - 8/17/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to September 30, 2021 - 8/17/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 8/18/21
  • ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Postpones Resumption of EPSDT Referral Requirement - 8/20/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to October 31, 2021 - 9/13/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to November 30, 2021 - 10/15/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to December 31, 2021 - 11/15/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion - 11/22/21
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to January 31, 2022 - 12/23/21
  • ALERT:   Information on Billing for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 1/13/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 OTC At Home Tests Pharmacy Billing - 1/20/2022
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to February 28, 2022 - 1/26/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to March 31, 2022 - 2/15/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to April 30, 2022 - 3/11/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion - 4/8/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to May 31, 2022 - 4/13/22
  • ALERT:   Billing for COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling for Recipients Under Age 21 - 4/13/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to June 30, 2022 - 5/26/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to July 31, 2022 - 6/14/22
  • ALERT:   Emergency Expiration Date Extended to August 31, 2022, and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency - 7/13/22
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 7/26/22
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 7/26/22
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 7/26/22
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 8/15/22
  • ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to September 30, 2022 - 8/22/22
  • ALERT:   Upcoming Agency Meeting: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Update on September 15th- 9/12/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to October 31, 2022, and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency - 9/15/22
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 10/4/22
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 10/5/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Prescribing of Paxlovid by Pharmacists - 10/12/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to November 30, 2022, and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency - 10/13/22
  • ALERT:  UPDATE - Billing for Stand-alone COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling for Recipients Under Age 21 - 11/3/22
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 11/10/22
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 11/10/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to December 31,2022, and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency - 11/14/22
  • ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 11/22/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to January 31,2023, and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency - 12/13/22
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to February 28, 2023 - 1/18/23
  • ALERT:  Continuous Enrollment Ending March 31st - 1/30/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 2/8/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 2/8/23
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to March 31, 2023 - 2/21/23
  • ALERT:  Maternity Dental Benefit Coverage - 3/21/23
  • ALERT:  Postpartum Coverage Extension from 60 Days to 12 Month - 3/21/23
  • ALERTCOVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to May 11, 2023 - 3/31/23
  • ALERTCOVID-19 Unwinding - Provider Updates - 4/12/23
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Unwinding - Changes to Services - 4/17/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 4/20/23
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Unwinding – Changes to Hospital Allowances - 4/21/23
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Unwinding – Changes to Pharmacy/DME - 4/21/23
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Unwinding – Changes and Updates to Dental Services - 4/26/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 6/26/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) 10/4/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) 10/16/23
  • ALERT:  Reminder of Resumption of Ambulance Provider Requirements after the COVID-19 PHE - 11/16/23
  • ALERT:  Coverage for Adult Vaccines/COVID Vaccines and Administration (Pharmacy Providers)
  • ALERT:  COVID-19 Vaccine Codes Added to VFC List - 12/28/23
  • ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Syncytial Virus Vaccine 90678 and 90679 - 12/28/23
Additional Information for Providers