STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC Manual Change #41

MANUAL:  Family Medicaid

DATE:  April 1, 2009

Beginning April 1, 2009, all children under the age of 19 who are eligible for Denail KidCare or other Medicaid eligibility categories (except BA Baby Medicaid , TM Transitional Medicaid , 4M Four Month Post-Medicaid Eligibility , and Retroactive Medicaid) remain eligible for those benefits for a continuous 12 month period.  This change applies to all actions taken on or after April 1, 2009.

The manual has been updated to change all references to 6 month continuous eligibility to 12  months, and language that no longer applies has been removed.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3382 or email dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 5005-7   Case Reviews

• Changes the frequency of DKC Denali KidCare reviews from semiannually to annually.

• Adds review requirement for children in SSI Supplemental Security Income categories.

MS 5007   Continuous Eligibility for Children

• Removes the beginning date for continuous eligibility for children.

• Adds for example to #5 to clarify that returned mail is not the only way loss of contact is demonstrated.

• Changes client to child in #6.

MS 5007-1   Denali KidCare and Family Medicaid Cases

• Clarifies that a 12 month continuous eligibility period ( CEP Continuous Eligibility Period ), should coincide with the 12 month review period for DKC Denali KidCare.

• Clarifies that Family Medicaid may continue for children when parents are found ineligible.

• Adds examples to clarify policy.

MS 5007-2   Continuous Eligibility and Transitional Medicaid

• Clarifies that children should be put on Transitional Medicaid case with the parents regardless of the current CEP Continuous Eligibility Period date.

• Instructs that if the Transitional Medicaid case closes before the original CEP Continuous Eligibility Period expires, the children will be coded back  to FM Family Medicaid-AF for the remainder of that period.

• Adds example to clarify policy.

MS Manual Section 5007-4   Continuous Eligibility and Children in SSI Supplemental Security Income-Related Categories

1. • Removes this section.  Since all children now receive Medicaid for 12 months, there is no need to differentiate for children in SSI Supplemental Security Income -related categories.

MS 5018 G  Penalty For Failure to Apply

1. • Updated the continuous eligibility period in the note from 6 months to 12.

MS 5185-2 B   Member Leaves the Household

• Adds instruction to consider a child’s CEP Continuous Eligibility Period and to refer to section 5007 before ending his coverage.

MS 5340 D  Period Of Eligibility

1. • Updated to reflect change from 6-month continuous eligibility to 12.