Important Information
for Alabama Medicaid Providers
Claims-Filing Information for Providers Serving Evacuees
 

Alabama Medicaid providers furnishing medically-necessary services or supplies to hurricane evacuees with temporary coverage should know the following key points:

• To verify eligibility, providers should ask patients if they have a temporary Alabama evacuee Medicaid letter/card. This temporary card is a screen print on a sheet of paper.  Evacuees will not receive a plastic Medicaid card. Click here to see an example of the Alabama evacuee Medicaid letter/card
   

• Claims for patients with temporary Alabama Medicaid coverage should be filed only to Alabama Medicaid, even if the patient also has proof of Medicaid coverage in another state. This means that if an evacuee from Louisiana or Mississippi presents a Medicaid card from his or her home state and an evacuee paper card from Alabama, providers should bill using the information on the Alabama evacuee card. 
   

• If a claim is filed to Alabama Medicaid, DO NOT bill the other state for the same services.  Evacuees' Louisiana or Mississippi Medicaid coverage is not secondary coverage. This process was set up to assist providers and evacuees in providing and obtaining needed medical services. To bill the other state would be fraudulent.
  
  

• Alabama providers will still need to enroll with and file claims to the appropriate state Medicaid program for those evacuees who do not apply for the temporary coverage in Alabama. 

Please note that providers will be paid based on out-of-state coverage policies established by the Medicaid programs in those states.

Verifying Eligibility For Hurricane Evacuees
Special Information About Verifying Evacuee Eligibility

To verify eligibility, providers should ask evacuee patients if they have a temporary Alabama evacuee Medicaid letter/card. Providers should be aware that some evacuees will have a temporary paper letter/card AND a Medicaid card from Louisiana or Mississippi Medicaid.  (Note: Claims for patients with temporary Alabama Medicaid coverage should be filed only to Alabama Medicaid, even if the patient also has proof of coverage in another state.)

Important Note: Hurricane Katrina evacuees approved for temporary Medicaid coverage will not receive a plastic Medicaid card, but a paper letter/card. Please be aware that some paper cards may show eligibility through the end of the month. If this occurs, providers are asked to disregard that information since eligibility for evacuees is expected to continue through the end of the year. As always, it is essential that Alabama Medicaid providers check eligibility at the time of service.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, the Alabama Medicaid Agency is allowing out of state providers not enrolled in the Alabama Medicaid Program the ability to verify eligibility for Alabama Medicaid recipients via our Automated Voice Response System (AVRS).

The Alabama Medicaid Automated Voice Response System (AVRS) enables providers to access information regarding recipient eligibility. Bordering states should dial (800) 727-7848. States not bordering Alabama may access the AVRS by dialing 334) 215-0111 and pressing 5 after the prompt.

• Click here for more specific instructions on using Alabama's AVRS system.
• Click here to see specific information about the regular Alabama Medicaid ID card
• Click here to see an example of a temporary Alabama Medicaid ID (paper letter/card)

Note to all Providers: New Recipient County Codes have been assigned to Hurricane Katrina Evacuees who are enrolled in the Alabama Medicaid Program.
90 – ALABAMA (Katrina Evacuee)
91 – MISSISSIPPI (Katrina Evacuee)
92 – LOUISIANA (Katrina Evacuee)

Provider Enrollment - Special Circumstances

A special expedited enrollment process and forms have been developed for out-of-state providers furnishing medical services to Alabama Medicaid recipients and for dental providers displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Click here to learn more about enrolling with Alabama Medicaid

Alabama State Board of Medical Licensure
Information on Licensure in Alabama for Physicians Displaced by Hurricane Katrina

• Nursing Home Services – (334) 242-5684
• Pharmacy Services – (334) 242-5050
• Medical Services – (334) 353-5533
• Alabama Medicaid Recipient Inquiry Unit - (800) 362-1504
• Agency Contact List
• Printable Poster with Toll-Free Numbers (PDF)

Helpful Links:

• Alabama Medicaid Provider Manual
• Alabama Medicaid Eligibility Information
• Mississippi Medicaid Home Page
• Louisiana Medicaid Website
• Texas Medicaid Contact Center

Click here for news updates from alabama.gov, the official website of the State of Alabama.