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