STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:  MC Manual Change #21

MANUAL:  Aged, Disabled and Long Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Manual

DATE:  August 1, 2011

Beginning August 1, 2011, we are making several changes to incorporate new policy and clarify existing policy.  These changes include:

1. • Removing documentation of identity from the U.S. United States citizenship and eligible alien status section and moving it to a new section.  This should make it easier for staff to locate this information.  
   • Clarifying that the DPA caseworker is responsible for sending the TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, P.L. 97-248 welcome letter (MED 16) to the parent or guardian when an application for TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, P.L. 97-248 is received.
   • Updating the Working Disabled Medicaid Income Standards to the 2011 amounts throughout this subsection.  Previous manual uses 2004 and 2005 income standards which are outdated.

Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below. If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3382 or email dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 520-B  U.S. United States Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status

1. • Removes some references to identity and moves them to new section 520-C.

MS 520-C  Identity

1. • Creates new section for documentation of identity.  

   • Moves current sections 520-C through 520-J to 520-D through 520-K.

   • Adds language that clarifies that using the signature for identity on the application form for children under age 16 should be coded 5A.

   • Adds an example that clarifies when a child turns age 16 at review no action is required.

MS 533-A(3)  TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, P.L. 97-248 Eligibility

1. • Removes the amount of the Special LTC Income Standard and creates a link to Addendum 1 instead since this amount is now subject to change annually.

MS 533-C(4)  Referral and Interagency Communications

1. • Clarifies that the DPA caseworker is responsible for sending the TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, P.L. 97-248 welcome letter (MED 16) to the parent or guardian when an application for TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, P.L. 97-248 is received.

   • Adds a note to indicate that the MED 16 is not the same letter that Qualis Health sends as described in section 533-D(2).

MS 534-K  Example of an Eligibility Determination

1. • Updates the Income Standards to the 2011 amounts throughout this subsection.  Previous manual uses 2004 and 2005 income standards which are outdated.

MS 534-M  Example of an Eligibility Determination with a Medicaid Qualifying Trust

1. • Updates the Income Standards to the 2011 amounts throughout this subsection.  Previous manual uses 2004 and 2005 income standards which are outdated.

Addendum 1  Program Standards

1. • Removes the income guidelines for household sizes greater than two for QMB.  Since QMB only allows either a one or two person household size this may lead to confusion.