COVID-19 Information for Providers

Continuous enrollment for Alabama Medicaid recipients ended March 31, 2023!

Alabama Medicaid will not terminate recipients until they have been redetermined for eligibility. Recipients will receive their renewal forms in the mail during their normal renewal time. Please ask recipients to keep their address, phone number, email address and other information up to date with Medicaid so they will receive their renewal form when it's time.

 

COVID-19 PHE Ended May 11, 2023!

Per federal guidance, the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ended on May 11, 2023. Therefore, some flexibilities the Alabama Medicaid Agency implemented due to the COVID-19 PHE ended at that time. Medicaid intends to keep providers updated on changes that will be forthcoming during the return to normal operations. Medicaid is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to prepare to end some flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 PHE. Notice of changes will be provided through additional notices via State Plan Notice, Administrative Code Notice, waiver notice, or provider ALERTs.

 

Resources for Providers

Resources for Recipients

Social Media Posts to Share

"Yellow Postcard" Campaign

The Agency started the "Yellow Postcard" campaign in May by distributing yellow postcards with recipient messaging on how to update their addresses with the Agency.

Postcards were delivered to provider offices and pharmacies through academic detailers starting in May 2022. If you would like to download and print your postcard for your office now, please select the files below and print them on yellow paper.

Providers, pharmacies, and other partners can assist by posting the yellow postcard in their check-in windows or at their check-in or checkout counters. Medicaid recipients can scan the QR code to take the information with them.

Postcards are posted in Medicaid district offices, outstation worker offices, FQHCs, RHCs, and public health departments. ACHN care coordinators, waiver case managers, and caseworkers with partner agencies have also received these postcards to display in their workstations.

COVID-19 ALERTs for Providers from Alabama Medicaid

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) regularly receives questions about changes during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The following Provider ALERTs outline changes implemented to better serve recipients and to assist providers in our state.

Continuous Enrollment

ALERT:  Continuous Enrollment Ending March 31st - 1/30/23

ALERT:  Alabama Medicaid Recipients to Remain Eligible During COVID-19 Emergency - 3/31/20

Copayments waived for recipients for ALL services during the PHE:

ALERT:   Waiver for Medicaid Copayments During COVID-19 Emergency - 3/27/20  

Referral requirements lifted during the PHE:

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:   Changes to ACHN DHCP Selection Referral Process - 5/18/21

ALERT:   EPSDT and PCP Referral Requirements - 7/27/21

ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Postpones Resumption of EPSDT Referral Requirement - 8/20/21

New procedure codes for COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration reimbursement:

ALERT:   COVID-19 Lab Testing Procedure Codes – 3/13/20

ALERT:   Additional Laboratory Testing and Specimen Collection Codes for Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 5/12/20

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:   COVID-19 Rapid Test Procedure Code 87426 - 8/20/20

ALERT:   COVID-19 Testing for Uninsured Individuals - 11/3/20

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 Testing Procedure Codes - 2/16/21

ALERT:   COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion - 2/16/21

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:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 4/16/21

ALERT:   Information on Billing for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines (for Non-Pharmacy Providers)  - 6/4/21

ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Pharmacy Billing - 8/18/21

ALERT:   COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion - 11/21/21

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 – 1/20/22

ALERT:   Billing for COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling for Recipients Under Age 21 – 4/13/22

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 Prescribing of Paxlovid by Pharmacists - 10/12/22

ALERT:  New Coverage for Administration of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 11/22/22

ALERT:   COVID-19 New Coverage for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 6/23/23

ALERT:   New Coverage for COVID-19 Vaccine (for Non-Pharmacy Providers) - 10/4/23

ALERT:   COVID-19 Vaccine Codes Added to VFC List - 12/28/23

ALERT:   New Coverage for Administration of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine 90678 and 90679 - 12/28/23

Telemedicine/telephonic reimbursement during the PHE:

ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage – 3/18/20

ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage for Optometrists - 3/20/20

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:  AL Medicaid Temporarily Allowing Physical Therapy Services Through Telemedicine During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/3/20

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:   Alabama Medicaid Extend Additional Behavioral Health Procedure Code Coverage via Telemedicine - 5/21/20

ALERT:   Telemedicine Origination Site Facility Fee for Outpatient Clinic Services - 7/21/20

Hospital coverage changes during the PHE:

ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Temporarily Extends Inpatient Stays for Recipients in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic - 4/16/20

ALERT:   20% Increase in Per Diem Rates for COVID-19 Related Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Stays - 6/26/20

Pharmacy/DME changes during the PHE:

ALERT:   Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19 – 3/18/20

ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Modifies Recipient Signature Requirement during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/20/20

ALERT:   Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Program Updates Related to COVID - 8/19/20

ALERT:   Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19 - 4/14/21

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

Nursing Home changes during the PHE:

ALERT:   Waiver for Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASRR) Level I and Level  II Assessments for 30 Days - 3/26/20  

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:   Hospice Claims Reprocessed Due to Increased Per Diem Rate for Nursing Facilities Related to COVID-19 Health Emergency - 4/24/20

Other Programs:

ALERT:   Waiver for Ambulance Providers During COVID-19 Emergency - 4/1/20

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:   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:   Financial Accounting for COVID-19 on the Alabama Medicaid Cost Report - 7/10/20

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:   Onsite Cost Report Audits - 7/28/21

ALERT:   Covid-19 Unwinding-Changes and Updates to Dental Services- 4/26/23

ALERT:   Reminder of Resumption of Ambulance Provider Requirements after the COVID-19 PHE - 11/16/23

Recent PHE Extension ALERTs:

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to March 31, 2023 - 2/21/23

ALERT:   Continuous Enrollment Ending March 31st - 1/30/2023

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to Febrary 28, 2023 - 1/18/2023

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to January 31, 2023 and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency  - 12/13/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to December 31, 2022 and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency  - 11/14/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to November 30, 2022 and Preparation for the End of the Public Health Emergency  - 10/13/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to October 31, 2022 - 9/15/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to September 30, 2022 - 8/22/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to August 31, 2022 - 7/13/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to July 31, 2022 - 6/14/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to June 30, 2022 - 5/26/2022

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to May 31, 2022 - 4/13/22

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to April 30, 2022 - 3/11/22

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to March 31, 2022 - 2/15/22

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to February 28, 2022 - 1/26/22

ALERT:   COVID-19 Emergency Expiration Date Extended to January 31, 2022 - 12/23/21

Other changes during the PHE were implemented and can be found on Alabama Medicaid’s COVID-19 Update page. This page is updated regularly with recipient and provider information:  https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information