STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #55
MANUAL: Aged, Disabled and Long Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Manual
DATE: December 1, 2020
This year Social Security announced a Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2021. We have updated Addendum 1 and the examples throughout the manual with the following items to reflect the 1.3% increase for 2021:
- 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
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
517 Fair Hearings
- Added a new chapter to match federal regulations that allow a verbal fair hearing request for Medicaid.
518 Alien Sponsor Income
- Added a new chapter to clarify Alien Sponsor Income deeming.
520(F) Verification and Documentation
- Added a link to APA MS 410-4 for further clarification on verification.
520(I) Reserved
- Revised section as reserved due to fair hearing policy is no longer the same as APA. See ADLTC 517.
523(B) Reserved
- Revised to reserved due to information moved Alien Sponsor Income to new chapter ADLTC 518.
524(A) Reserved
- Revised to reserved due to information moved Alien Sponsor Income to new chapter ADLTC 518.
532(C) Alien Sponsor Deeming
- Removed outdated section and moved Alien Sponsor Income to new chapter ADLTC 518.
- Renumbered section.
554(D) Look Back Period
- Updated example due to COLACost of Living Allowance increase.
570(A) Definitions
- Added note clarifying that Native Dividend income over $2,000 is countable, even if deposited to a trust.
570(C) Individuals Not Subject to Cost of Care
- Clarified that SSI and APA recipients are not responsible for cost of care.
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.
580 Medicare Savings Programs
- Added a note that incarcerated individuals are not eligible for Medicare Savings Programs.
- Updated the QMBQualified Medicare Beneficiaries and SLMBSpecified Low Income Medicare Beneficiaries resource limits.
- Updated LIS resource limits and coverage information.
Addendum 1
- Updated standards due to COLACost of Living Allowance change
- Updated Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D premiums for 2021
- Updated 2021 Spousal Impoverishment Standards
- Updated QMBQualified Medicare Beneficiaries and SLMBSpecified Low Income Medicare Beneficiaries resource limits