Medicaid Eligibility Boot Camp: Cutting Through the Red Tape of Medicaid

Tennessee Justice Center is hosting our annual two-day virtual training event designed to provide healthcare providers and advocates with the knowledge, insights, and tools they need to successfully navigate the red tape maze of Medicaid.

Understanding the complex nature of TennCare and CoverKids benefits continues to be a challenge for healthcare providers and advocates looking to better serve their patients and clients. To address these challenges, the Tennessee Justice Center will be hosting a two-day virtual training event designed to provide attendees with the knowledge, insights, and tools they need to successfully navigate the red tape maze of Medicaid. Led by TJC’s knowledgeable legal team, you won’t want to miss this informative course featuring eligibility instruction, discussion groups, and a hands-on practice session designed to help you better understand Tennessee’s ever-shifting policies and practices.

Registration Fee: $299 per person

Register today and become a certified TJC Medicaid Boot Camp graduate! Register Here! For more information or questions about registering for the Medicaid Eligibility Boot Camp, please email Thomas at thill@tnjustice.org or call us at 1-877-608-1009.

TRAINING AGENDA

DAY ONE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM CST

Welcome

With redetermination in full force, many healthcare professionals and advocates are wondering what is next, especially with many Tennesseans still struggling to access affordable healthcare. As TennCare enrollment drops, Tennessee Justice Center remains on the frontline helping Tennesseans access coverage and advocating for change. To kick off our two-day event, Michele Johnson, Executive Director of Tennessee Justice Center, virtually welcomes attendees by sharing a glimpse into our work helping individuals and families get covered.

8:45 AM – 10:00 AM CST

Why Medicaid Eligibility Is So Complicated: the 3 Medicaid Methodologies

Almost all Medicaid categories use a combination of factors like the applicant’s age, health, living arrangement, and financial resources to determine eligibility. To further complicate the process, each eligibility category utilizes one of three methodologies to evaluate these factors. While there are some similarities among the methodologies, there are several distinct and notable differences that advocates need to know. During this session, we will explain each methodology and teach you how to accurately identify members of the household, calculate countable income, and determine the effect, if any, that assets have on eligibility.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST

Coverage Pitfalls and Workarounds for Adults without a Disability

Not all medical situations are created equal, making it even more difficult to determine which Medicaid category adults over 21 best qualify for. During this session, we will outline the category options available for adults without a disability and how to navigate the most common obstacles advocates encounter when helping a person apply for and enroll in health coverage.

12:00-12:30 Lunch and Learn: Ask Us Anything!

We will answer your questions live.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

Navigating Coverage Challenges for Individuals with Disabilities

During this session, learn about the TennCare categories that cover individuals with disabilities focusing on the lesser-known categories for former SSI recipients. This session will also touch on the Katie Beckett waiver program, Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES, and the DIDD waiver programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During this session, we will explain each of these programs and share our best practices for enrolling applicants.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST

CHOICES: Understanding the Financial Requirements

Navigating the processes and understanding the nuances of the CHOICES program tends to overwhelm most advocates. In this session, Pam Wright, a certified elder law attorney, will provide an overview of the financial requirements for getting an adult access to long-term care in a nursing facility or his/her own home. Pam will cover the treatment of resources, creating a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), how the state recovery works, and applying for hardship waivers.

DAY TWO: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM CST

Welcome Back

Michele Johnson, Executive Director of the Tennessee Justice Center, welcomes attendees back to the Medicaid Eligibility Boot Camp.

8:45 AM – 10:00 AM CST

CHOICES: Understanding the Medical Requirements

The start of day two continues with a focus on adults with an overview of the Pre-Admission Evaluation (PAE) process. Pam will explain how the acuity scale is used to measure assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including what constitutes a qualifying score. She will also explain

how a safety determination can be used to qualify for CHOICES when an applicant fails to score high enough on the PAE.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST

Coverage Options for Kids & Pregnant Women

Healthy children are happy children, and ensuring they have access to healthcare from the womb to adulthood is essential. During this session, we will outline the coverage options and common barriers impacting children under 21 and pregnant women. This includes options for children losing coverage due to the annual renewal process also known as redetermination. In addition, we will explain how the TennCare III waiver expanded coverage for children and pregnant women.

12:00-12:30 Lunch and Learn: Ask Us Anything!

We will answer your questions live.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

Redetermination is here! Now what?

The renewal process known as redetermination is in full swing. We are already seeing a wave of uninsured people seeking help from healthcare providers and advocates. Understanding the applicable deadlines is key to helping enrollees keep TennCare or CoverKids without a coverage gap. During this session, we will explain the current landscape and share tips and resources you can use to navigate this complicated process.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST

Let’s Practice!

During this session, attendees will get the chance to practice what they have learned during the previous sessions. Using a set of increasingly challenging practice scenarios, we will work together to solve application and enrollment problems that advocates are most likely to encounter in the coming year.