STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #64
MANUAL: Aged, Disabled and Long Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Manual
DATE: December 1, 2023
This year Social Security announced a Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2024. We have updated Addendum 1 and the examples throughout the manual with the following items to reflect the 3.2% increase for 2024:
- An increase to the Long Term Care community spouse resource and income allowance and household member standards;
- An increase to the Excess Home Equity resources maximum;
- An increase to the Special Long Term Care Income Standard;
- Changes in Medicare Part A and B premiums; and
- Changes in Medicare Part D premium and coverage information, including changes to the Low-Income Subsidy program
We have made several changes to clarify existing policy as a result of policy questions or suggestions from the field. An overview of the changes are listed below.
If you have any questions, please contact the Policy & Program Development Team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
512 Social Security Enumeration
- Removed reference to Addendum 9 and replaced with reference to new location of the Social Security Enumeration Letter Template.
514 D Penal Institution
- Clarified that we cannot deny or terminate Medicaid benefits solely because an individual is incarcerated.
515 Continuous Eligibility and Children in SSISupplemental Security Income Related Categories
- Removed incarceration in a penal institution as a reason to end the continuous eligibility period.
554 D Look Back Period
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance change.
554 F Transfer of Assets
- Clarified transfer of asset presumption policy for Medicaid.
570 C Individuals not Subject to Cost of Care
- Added note to clarify when it is appropriate to mail the M003 notice.
570 E Allowable deduction for Cost of Care determinations
- Updated example of ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program ANIAdult Not Included standard due to COLACost of Living Allowance change.
570 H Nursing Home Examples
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance change.
570 J Home and Community Based Waiver Case Examples
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance change.
580 D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Program
- Updated resource limit and subsidy information.
ADDENDUM 1
- Updated standards due to COLACost of Living Allowance change.
- Updated Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D premiums for 2024.
- Updated 2024 Spousal Impoverishment Standards.
ADDENDUM 9 SOCIAL SECURITY ENUMERATION REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE
- Removed addendum so this letter template is not available to the public.