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 Third Party Resource” 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