Author: Patrick Ellison

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INCREASE IN VENDOR MINIMUM MONTHLY MAINTENANCE NEEDS ALLOWANCE AND SHELTER STANDARDS ADJUSTMENTS IN VENDOR

MANUAL REVISION #
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX J

DISCUSSION:

Effective July 1, 2021, the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Allowance (MMMNA) and Shelter Standard for Vendor cases are increased. The eligibility system adjusts all Vendor cases on June 12, 2021.

NEW MMMNA AND SHELTER STANDARD

Allotments for community spouses, minor children, and eligible dependents and the MMMNA and Shelter Standard are revised for actions effective the month of July 2021 and later. The revised guidelines effective July 2021 are:

CASES ADJUSTED DURING MASS ADJUSTMENT

The eligibility system uses the current standards for the allotment and surplus determinations completed prior to the mass adjustment.

If there is a community spouse, minor or eligible dependent, the eligibility system determines the new allotment amount using the revised standards. The new allotment for a community spouse, minor or eligible dependent displays on the Allotment Information (ALLOT, FMJ6) screen. The new allotment for a minor not living with the community spouse displays on the Minor Living Outside Allotment Information (MINOR, FMJ2) screen.

If there is a change in the surplus amount, the institutionalized spouse’s coverage is adjusted during the mass adjustment and a notice is sent to the participant.

The coverage for the community spouse, minor or eligible dependent is NOT automatically updated. Manual update of the allotment amount on the Select Income (SELINC) screen is required. This will often result in an adverse action for the community spouse, minor or eligible dependent due to the increase in the allotment amount.

NOTE: Adverse actions are currently being suspended due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

The change in the surplus amount displays on the Adult MO HealthNet Vendor Budget Summary (FMD8) screen.

To access the Adult MO HealthNet Vendor Budget Screen:

• Go to the EU Action Log (EULOG/FM40) screen;
• Select a Budget Month;
• Enter F17=INQAUTH;
• Select F16=MHABD;
• Select Coverage Type VEND and press F16=AGBUDSUM

After the adjustment, the eligibility system determines allotments and surpluses for July 2021 and later using the new standards.

NOTICES

Cases resulting in no change from the mass adjustment do not receive an action notice.

FAIR HEARING REQUEST

If the household requests a fair hearing, please see Email Memo IM-22 dated 04/29/2021 Income Maintenance Hearing Unit Statewide Rollout of E-referral Hand of Button for Hearings Requests.

NOTE: Comments must also be made regarding the hearing request in the eligibility system.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/mc

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  SUPPLEMENTAL AID TO THE BLIND AND BLIND PENSION MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNTS

DISCUSSION:

Supplemental Aid to the Blind (SAB) and Blind Pension (BP) will not have an increase in the grant for fiscal year 2022 which begins July 1, 2021 and ends June 30, 2022. The maximum grant continues to be $750.00.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/mc

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  ANNUAL MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) ASSET LIMIT INCREASE

MANUAL REVISION #
APPENDIX J
APPENDIX K
APPENDIX L

DISCUSSION:

As a result of HB1565 (2016), asset limits for MHABD programs have increased effective July 1, 2021:

• Individual asset limit is $5,035.00.
• Couple asset limit is $10,070.00.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/mc

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO THE PRIOR QUARTER (PQ) AND MONTH OF APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY SECTION IN THE FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1850.030.00
1850.040.30

DISCUSSION:

Section 1850.030.00 Prior Quarter (PQ) and Month of Application Eligibility in the MAGI manual is updated to note that MO HealthNet for Pregnant Women (MPW) coverage can continue from PQ months into ongoing coverage, despite increased income in the application month. Review the manual section for additional information and examples.

Section 1850.040.30 Coverage When Application is Made After the Birth is updated with a reference to 1850.030.00.

For cases which require a coverage correction, refer to Adding New MO Override Eligibility Evidence in MEDES Resources.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/ers

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  FORM REVISIONS TO HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENT PROGRAM (HIPP) APPLICATIONS AND AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL FORMS

FORM REVISION #
HIPP-1
HIPP-A
MO 886-4704
MO 886-4705
MO 886-4706

DISCUSSION:

Multiple forms have been revised in the Department of Social Services (DSS) Forms Manual to provide updated versions of forms maintained by other divisions.

Application for Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP-1) and Application for Health Insurance Premium Payment Program for HIV/AIDS (HIPP-A) forms were updated by MO HealthNet Division with a revision date of 8/2020.

Ticket to Work Health Assurance Automatic Withdrawal Authorization (MO 886-4704), Spenddown Pay-In Automatic Withdrawal Authorization (MO 886-4705), and MO HealthNet for Kids Insurance Premium Payments Automatic Withdrawal Authorization (MO 886-4706) forms were updated by the Division of Finance and Administrative Services (DFAS) with a revision date of 1/2021. These forms now have form numbers and the form numbers were added to the DSS Forms Manual.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/cj

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO DURATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
0803.020.10.20

DISCUSSION:

Section 0803.020.10.20 Duration of Appointment of Representative has been updated to remove the requirement that an application must be received within 30 days of the receipt of the signed Appointment of Authorized Representative (IM-6AR) form.

Additionally, this section has been modified to advise a signed IM-6AR must be received within 90 days of the date of the participant’s signature to be a valid IM-6AR.

EXAMPLE: An employee of the local hospital submits an IM-6AR on behalf of Aaron, who is applying for MO HealthNet. The IM-6AR was signed by Aaron 7 months ago. The IM-6AR was not submitted within 90 days of the date Aaron signed it, therefore, it is not a valid IM-6AR.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/ers

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATE TO THIRD PARTY LIABILITY (TPL) SECTION IN THE FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) AND MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) MANUALS

MANUAL REVISION #
0880.020.00
1805.045.00

DISCUSSION:

Third Party Liability (TPL) policy has been updated. Updates include the addition of examples and the following clarification:

Uninsured status is an eligibility factor for certain types of coverage, such as Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP). To determine eligibility for one of these coverage types, insured status cannot be questionable. Obtain and document information or clarification to explain insured status before determining eligibility.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/ers