STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #46

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

DATE:  December 1, 2017

This year Social Security announced a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) increase effective 2018.  We have updated Addendum 1 and the examples throughout the manual with the following items to reflect the 2.0%  increases for 2018:  

• 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; and
• An increase to the Special Long Term Care Income Standard
• Medicare Part A and B premiums
• Medicare Part D premium and coverage information, including changes to the Low-Income Subsidy program

In addition to the COLA change, this manual change consists of several small technical changes or clarifications as a result of suggestions from the field.

Highlights of these revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at e-mail dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

527-B      SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST

• Clarified that an individual can set up a Special Needs Trust (SNT) due to a law change

533          DISABLED CHILDREN AT HOME (TEFRA)

• Replaced terminology "Plan of Care" with "Support Plan" to match Senior & Disabilities Services (SDS) change in terminology as of January 1, 2018

553-D      RESOURCE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION AND ALLOTMENT OF RESOURCES

• Updated example due to COLA change

554-D      LOOK BACK PERIOD

• Updated example with new year for ease in understanding

560         HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED WAIVER SERVICES

• Replaced terminology "Plan of Care" with "Support Plan" to match Senior & Disabilities Services (SDS) change in terminology as of January 1, 2018

560-B     HCB WAIVER TYPES

• Added new Individualized Supports (IS) Waiver type

• Explained new Community First Choice (CFC) services that have been added to the Medicaid State Plan as of January 1, 2018

560-C     ELIGIBILITY FOR HCB WAIVER SERVICES

• Added new Individualized Supports (IS) Waiver type

562         PROCESSING HCB WAIVER CASES

• Replaced terminology "Plan of Care" with "Support Plan" to match Senior & Disabilities Services (SDS) change in terminology as of January 1, 2018

570         POST ELIGIBILITY AND COST-OF-CARE

• Replaced terminology "Plan of Care" with "Support Plan" to match Senior & Disabilities Services (SDS) change in terminology as of January 1, 2018

ADDENDUM 1      PROGRAM STANDARDS

• Updated due to COLA change