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 COLACost of Living Allowance change

• Updated Medicare Part A, Part B and Part D premiums for 2019

• Updated 2019 Spousal Impoverishment Standards

Addendum 2

• Removed MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid subtypes to eliminate confusion