CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will distribute an annual Medicaid card for members, as opposed to a monthly card, that will take effect Wednesday.
The change over is expected to save West Virginia $2.5 million per year.
Cynthia Beane, acting commissioner for the state Bureau for Medical Services, said the move will significantly reduce costs to the state with the printing of paper and postage.
Beane said it will also benefit both the Medicaid member and the Medicaid provider.
“The provider community has the ability to look in our MMIS system in case the member were to lose a card, there is a capability of an electronic verification of eligibility,” said Beane.
Beane said Medicaid members will be treated like other insurers and will have a card similar to private insurance cards. For the first year of use, the Medicaid card will be printed on paper.
She said providers will have to adapt to the switch over to annual cards.
“It’s a significant change in process because they’ll see that yearly card and then they’ll be looking at those members on a yearly basis instead,” said Beane.
New cards will be issued in January of each year.