STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:  MC Manual Change #51

MANUAL:  Family Medicaid

DATE:  September 1, 2011

We are making several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our program policy manuals.  These changes include:

1. • Removing pregnancy with expected date of birth as an item requiring documentary or third party verification.  New policy will allow us to take client statement of pregnancy, including expected date of birth, unless questionable.
   • Adding a new military section.  All military pay issues are now included in one section and are more fully explained.
   • Adding Addendum 4 to provide an example of an Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) as well as three tables to define types of Entitlements, Allotments and Deductions that may be found on the LES Leave and Earnings Statement.

Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.

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

5000-4A  Verification Requirements

1. • Removes pregnancy with expected date of birth as an item requiring documentary or third party verification.  New policy will allow us to take client statement of pregnancy, including expected date of birth, unless questionable.
   • Reformats section to align with other program policy manuals.

5006-3  Timely Notice Requirement

1. • Clarifies the count for 10 days adverse action begins the day after the notice is mailed.
   • Replaces the example to better explain the count for 10 days adverse action and align with other program policy manuals.

5011-5  Non-Immigrants

1. • Adds a note clarifying that citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau are considered non-immigrants.  For these people to receive benefits, they must take action to become a qualified alien.

5011-6C  Proof of Qualified Alien Status

1. • Creates a separate row in the table for Cuban or Haitian Entrants.  Previous manual combined this immigration status with the Battered Spouse or Child of a U.S. United States Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident.  

5104-7  Individuals Included in the Household and Whose Income and Resources Do Count but Who Are Not Eligible for Coverage

1. • Adds language that states if a mandatory household member is ineligible due to failure to pursue other benefits under section 5018-G, their income and resources do count in the FM Family Medicaid eligibility determination.

5104-9  Pregnant Woman Considerations

1. • Removes policy that requires medical verification of pregnancy.  

5104-9-B  Paternity

1. • Corrects form name from “DPA Division of Public Assistance Paternity Statement” to “ATAP Statement of Relationship”.

5104-9C  Verification

1. • Revises policy to only require verification of pregnancy with estimated date of delivery for third trimester FM Family Medicaid coverage if questionable.  Previous policy required medical verification for all pregnancies.

   • Includes examples of when pregnancy is considered questionable.

5161-6  Vocational Rehabilitation Payments

1. • Corrects link in note regarding educational assistance to link to FM Family Medicaid MS Manual Section 5162-4B instead of FM Family Medicaid MS Manual Section 5162-3B.

5162-3  Military Basic Allowances

1. • Removes information regarding military income.  

   • Adds a link to the new Military Pay section 5166-1.

5162-4B  Other Education Grants and Awards

1. • Clarifies that any money that “will not” be used for education expenses is countable unearned income.  Previous policy only indicated money that “is not” used for education expenses is countable unearned income.  

5166-1  Military Pay

1. • Adds a new section to better explain military pay issues.

   • Adds a link to the new Leave and Earnings Statement in Addendum 4.

5310-A  General Eligibility Criteria

1. • Revises policy to only require verification of pregnancy with estimated date of delivery for third trimester FM Family Medicaid coverage if questionable.  Previous policy required medical verification for all pregnancies.

   • Includes examples of when pregnancy is considered questionable.

Addendum-4  The Leave and Earnings Statement

1. • Adds new section with a sample LES Leave and Earnings Statement and definitions of entitlements, deductions, and allotments found on the LES Leave and Earnings Statement.