Department of Social Services
Family Support Division
PO Box 2320
Jefferson City, Missouri
TO: ALL FAMILY SUPPORT OFFICES
FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: COVID-19 VERIFICATION FOR FAMILY HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS (MAGI) UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification to Memo IM-19 COVID-19 Verifications for Family Healthcare Programs (MAGI). IM-19 introduced temporary policy to allow Family Support Division (FSD) to waive many eligibility verification requirements for MAGI programs during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE.)
For the duration of the PHE, applications can be rejected for various reasons, but active cases can only be closed in certain circumstances. Cases on which a Request for Information (IM-31A) is sent, but no response is received, will require review after the PHE ends. For this reason, send IM-31As as a last resort. Utilize all available resources. This includes but is not limited to, IMES, IIVE, and/or FAMIS and use sound judgement before attempting contact with the participant.
For more information about contacting participants, see the updated MEDES COVID-19 Self-Attestation Guide.
Resume Reasonable Compatibility
Per clarification from the Division of Legal Services, resume use of Reasonable Compatibility (RC) procedures to attempt to confirm self-attested income.
- If electronically obtained information (EOI) is RC with self-attested income, verify the evidence with RC.
- If EOI is not RC with self-attested income, but the EOI does not clearly contradict self-attested income, verify the income as self-attested. See the MEDES COVID-19 Self-Attestation Guide for examples.
- Enter a comment to describe the self-attested income and electronic data. Include in the comment “self-attestation accepted due to special circumstances. 42 CFR 435.952(c)(3).”
- If EOI is not RC with self-attested income and clearly contradicts self-attested income, contact the participant. See the MEDES COVID-19 Self-attestation Guide for examples.
Included Income Types
The participant must provide enough information about the income to determine an income amount in order for the income to be considered self-attested. If income cannot be considered self-attested, contact the participant.
EXAMPLE: Marcy is processing a change report on which the participant claimed a job at Wal-Mart making $12.75 per hour. The participant didn’t list weekly hours or a gross amount and pay frequency. Marcy cannot determine self-attested income with this information.
Excluded Income Types
Do not send an IM-31A to request clarification of an excluded/non-countable income type. If a current amount can be found on an available resource (such as IIVE for SSI or INTRFACE for child support) enter the amount found on the available resource. Add a note to explain where the information was obtained and what, if anything, the participant reported about the income.
File IMES, IIVE, or other resources in the electronic case record, as directed by policy.
Tax Filing Status
Continue to accept self-attestation of tax filing status. If tax filing status is not declared for a participant, contact the participant for more information.
Reasonable Opportunity
Follow normal procedures to allow a reasonable opportunity period except:
- Accept self-attestation of a pending SSN application for participants eligible to receive a reasonable opportunity period.
- Accept self-attestation of application for a birth certificate for participants eligible to receive a reasonable opportunity period.
- See the MEDES COVID-19 Self-attestation Guide for more information.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
- Review the updated MEDES COVID-19 Self-attestation Guide.
- Exhaust all available resources for verification before attempting contact with a participant.
- Attempt phone contact before sending an IM-31A.
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