STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: 2019-01

MANUAL: Administrative Procedures Manual

DATE: April 15, 2019

Several sections of the Administrative Procedures Manual have been revised.

If you have questions, please contact Field Services at dpafield@alaska.gov or the Policy and Program Development Team at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 100-3(H)      REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES

• Added note clarifying that SSA provided information cannot be released to any outside agency and that information relating to domestic violence issues, specific victims, and identifying information that could compromise the family's health and safety cannot be released to anyone without the victim's permission
• Clarified that a release of information is required if the agency is not specifically listed in this section
• Deleted subsection 100-3(H)5 which is a list of agencies with signed grant agreements, contracts, or memorandums of agreement information as this list was misunderstood by staff and causing potential incorrect release of confidential information
• Renumbered section

MS 101-4      RECEIPT OF AN IDENTIFIABLE APPLICATION

• Clarified that only an identifiable application can be registered

MS 104-4(B)      REQUEST FOR INFORMATION DEADLINE DATES

• Clarified that households living in a rural area should be given 15 days to provide requested information
• Added link to Addendum 1 of SNAP manual that shows which communities are considered rural

MS 105-13(B)(1)      VERIFICATION OF RELATIONSHIP

• Added NSTAR interface as a verification option to verify relationship

MS 107-1      RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT CHANGES

• Replaced Family Medicaid program manual reference with MAGI Medicaid

MS 117-1(B)      HOW TO REQUEST A FAIR HEARING

• Clarified that the office that receives the fair hearing request must send it to the Contracted Services via email to dpa.csqa@alaska.gov. It must also be forwarded to the supervisor of the caseworker who processed the case that led to the fair hearing request.

MS 128-4(A)      ONE-TIME REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PAYMENTS

• Updated the one-time resettlement payment to $975 as the amount increased from $925 effective January 1, 2019