STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:  MCManual Change #19

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

DATE:  April 1, 2011

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

1. • Clarifying that verification of citizenship includes verification of both citizenship and identity.  it is not necessary to verify citizenship and identity again unless it becomes questionable.
   • New policy excluding federal income tax returns as income in the month of receipt and as a resource for 12 months from the date of receipt.  They are not subject to Medicaid transfer of asset penalty provisions for 12 months from the date the payments are received and cannot be used to determine the cost of care.
   • New policy exempting any deposits or funds held in Individual Indian Money accounts as income and resources.
   • Clarifying the personal needs amount is determined by the Medicaid subtype entered on the MEREMedical Reference screen.

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. Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status

1. • Clarifies that verification of citizenship includes verification of both citizenship and identity.
   • Clarifies that once a person's citizenship and identity is documented and recorded, it is not necessary to verify citizenship and identity again unless it becomes questionable.

MS 523-D  Cost-of-Care Determination

1. • Clarifies that federal income tax returns are excluded as income and cannot be used to determine the cost of care for institutionalized individuals or certain individuals eligible for HCBHome and Community-Based services under a waiver.

MS 523-I  Individual Indian Money Accounts

1. • Adds new policy that excludes any deposits or funds held in Individual Indian Money (IIMIndividual Indian Money) accounts from counting as income.  

MS 524-E  Transfer of Resources

1. • Adds new policy that federal tax returns are not subject Medicaid transfer of asset penalty provisions for 12 months from the date the payments are received.

MS 524-K  Individual Indian Money Accounts

1. • Adds new policy that excludes any deposits or funds held in Individual Indian Money (IIMIndividual Indian Money) accounts from counting as a resource.  

MS 554-F(9)  Transfers of Federal Income Tax Returns

1. • Adds new policy that federal income tax returns are not subject to Medicaid transfer of asset penalty provisions for 12 months from the date the payments are received.

Addendum 1  Program Standards

1. • Updates Federal Poverty Guideline charts to reflect the poverty guideline changes effective March 2011.
   • Updates Pickle Amendment Table to show reduction factor amounts through December 2010.

Addendum 4  COCACost of Care Processing

1. • Revises the description for the personal needs field to state that this amount is hard coded and is determined by the Medicaid subtype entered on the MEREMedical Reference screen.  The current language incorrectly indicates the hard coded personal needs amount is determined by the household type entered on the APMMAPA Method Medicaid Only Authorization screen or APAS screen.