STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #49
MANUAL: Aged, Disabled and Long Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Manual
DATE: December 03, 2018
This year Social Security announced a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2019. We have updated Addendum 1 and the examples throughout the manual with the following items to reflect the 2.8% increase for 2019:
- 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
In addition to the COLACost of Living Allowance 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
MS 505 B What is a Third Party Resource
- Added long term care insurance to the list of third party resources and a note explaining how to notify TPLThird Party Liability if a long term care insurance policy exists.
MS 554 D Look Back Period
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase
MS 562 A MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income Waiver Cases
- Removed the statement that MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income waiver cases do not impose a transfer of asset penalty. MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income waiver cases do impose a transfer of asset penalty.
MS 570 E Allowable Deductions for Cost-Of-Care
- Added a note to clarify that deductions must be verified before they are allowed to be used as a deduction.
MS 570 E(3) Family Member Allowance
- Updated section to clarify how a Family Member Allowance should be calculated and corrected reference from the MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid standards to the ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program ANIAdult Not Included standards.
MS 570 H Nursing Home Examples
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase
MS 570 J Home and Community Based Waiver Case Examples
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase
Addendum 1
- Updated standards due to COLA change
- Updated Medicare Part A, Part B and Part D premiums for 2019
- Updated 2019 Spousal Impoverishment Standards
Addendum 2
- Removed MAGI Medicaid subtypes to eliminate confusion