MEMORANDUM

DATE:                 December 1, 2005

TO:                       All Family Medicaid Manual Holders

FROM:                 Policy and Program Development Team

                              Ellie Fitzjarrald, Chief

SUBJECT:          Family Medicaid Manual Change #32

Each year the Family Medicaid standards are adjusted by the same percentage as the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA Cost of Living Allowance) increase in Social Security benefits.  This year the COLA Cost of Living Allowance increase is 4.1%.  This manual change incorporates the 2006 Family Medicaid Standards, which become effective with the benefit month of January 2006.  

This manual change also includes a change in how the value of a vehicle may be verified, in response to requests from staff.   

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3347 or email dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

 5065 - Third Party Liability (TPL Third Party Liability) and Recovery

Instructs caseworkers to send an email to the DMA TPL Third Party Liability staff if it appears a minor has health insurance coverage.  The “possible TPL Third Party Liability/TPR” indicator on the MERE Medical Reference screen screen should not be used for this purpose.

5154-8 – Vehicles

Changes policy to allow caseworkers to accept the household’s stated value of a vehicle when the household provides an explanation of why the value is lower than the assigned value, and the explanation is not questionable.  Thanks to the Mat-Su staff for their persistence in requesting this policy change!

MANUAL CHANGE FILING INSTRUCTIONS