STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #52

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

DATE:  December 2, 2019

This year Social Security announced a Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2020.  We have updated Addendum 1 and the examples throughout the manual with the following items to reflect the 1.6% increase for 2020:  

• 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, we have expanded the use of the Refused Cash (RCRefused Cash) Medicaid subtype effective with the benefit month of January 2020 to include individuals who have countable income above the appropriate APAAdult Public Assistance need/payment standard but below the Expanded Refused Cash monthly income limit listed in ADLTC MS 530(C). 

This manual change also 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

500(A)      Applicable Eligibility Categories

• Revised section to include an explanation of "Expanded Refused Cash" Medicaid eligibility

• Clarified that QMB, SLMB, SLMB Plus, and QDWI are Medicare Savings Programs that do not offer Medicaid coverage and added a link to ADLTC MS 580

515      TEFRA Case Processing

• Changed Qualis name to Comagine throughout the chapter due to company name change and updated to current dates

520(I)      Fair Hearings

• Added a link to Admin MS 117-2

530(B)     APA Recipient

• Revised table explanation of the SI and ST Medicaid subtypes for clarity

530(C)     SSI or APA Eligible, But Not Receiving Cash Payments

• Changed title due to the expanded use of the RCRefused Cash Medicaid subtype

• Added the Expanded Refused Cash income limits

• Revised table explanation of the RCRefused Cash Medicaid subtype due to a change in policy

533         Disabled Children at Home (TEFRA) whole chapter

• Changed Qualis name to Comagine due to company name change

554(D)     Look Back Period

• Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase

562(B)     APA Related Medicaid or LTC Medicaid Waiver Cases

• Changed Qualis name to Comagine due to company name change

570(H)      Nursing Home Examples

• Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase 

570(J)      Home and Community Based Waiver Case Example

• Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase

575(D)     Coverage

• Changed Qualis name to Comagine due to company name change

Addendum 1

• Updated standards due to COLACost of Living Allowance change

• Updated Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D premiums for 2020

• Updated 2020 Spousal Impoverishment Standards

• Updated QMB, SLMB, QI Resource Limits

• Updated Pickle Amendment Table

Addendum 2

• Revised table explanation of the RC Medicaid subtype due to a change in policy

• Revised Table explanation of the SI and ST Medicaid subtypes for clarity