Category: 2019

IM-071 UPDATE TO TIMEFRAME FOR HEARING EXHIBITS

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  UPDATE TO TIMEFRAME FOR HEARING EXHIBITS                              

MANUAL REVISION #47

0130.020.70.25.20

 

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform Family Support Division (FSD) staff of a change in the FSD Hearings Manual.  Section 0130.020.70.25.20 FSD Provides Exhibits to the AHU and the EU is updated with instructions outlined in 2016 IM Email Memo #57 Division of Legal Services (DLS) Administrative Hearing Notification and Family Support Division Requirements.

Effective immediately, exhibits are to be provided two days prior to the scheduled hearing for all FSD benefit hearings. 

NOTE:  Exhibits are available at the local office for any individual requesting a copy of their exhibits ahead of the scheduled hearing.

DLS will continue informing applicants/participants the documents may be viewed two days prior to the administrative hearing date.  These documents must be made available when requested. 

For additional information, refer to the Hearings Manual.  Also see Section 0130.020.40 EU’s Examination of Documents.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/rw

IM-070 TEMPORARY CENSUS EMPLOYEES EARNINGS

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  TEMPORARY CENSUS EMPLOYEES EARNINGS

 

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum introduces updates to the earned income code “CT – Census Income – Temporary” in FAMIS for the 2020 Census

Child Care: Effective April 1, 2019, the CT – Census Income – Temporary is included income in the Child Care Subsidy program budget.

Any changes to an active Child Care Subsidy case, simplified reporting rules will disregard benefit reductions on an active Child Care Subsidy case that reports new income or income increases from the Census Bureau.

Food Stamps: Missouri has received a waiver from Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to exclude Census Income- Temporary (CT) income for the 2020 Census through September 30, 2020 for the Food Stamp program. This waiver allows participants to gain work experience as well as much needed income in the current economy without the loss of Food Stamp benefits.

Temporary Assistance: Effective April 1, 2019, the Census Income – Temporary (CT) is excluded income for the Temporary Assistance (TA) program budget. Missouri has received guidance from Agency for Family and Children (AFC) to exclude this income for the 2020 Census. This means TA participants will continue to receive their benefits without reduction while helping the Census Bureau and gaining work experience.

MO HealthNet Programs: For all MO HealthNet programs (MHABD and MAGI), the Census Income- Temporary (CT) is included income in the MO HealthNet budget.

It is important to code this income source correctly for reporting purposes. Effective April 1, 2019, on the Income (FMX0) screen enter income type “EI – Earned Income” and source “CT – Census Income – Temporary”. FAMIS will consider the income as follows:

Income Description

Income Type

Source

CC

FS

TA

MO HealthNet

Census Income-Temporary

EI

CT

Include

Exclude

Exclude

Include

In MEDES, this income should be budgeted as “Wages” on the Income Type field on the Income Evidence. The Employer Name field should be entered as “Temporary 2020 Census Employment”. This will help alert staff to update income once the 2020 Census is complete.

Identifying Temporary Census Employees

Temporary employees working on the 2020 Census effort will receive a weekly Earnings Statement.  At the top of the statement is a notation for Pay Group:  “CB-1-Census Temporary Weekly”, and the dates for the current pay period.  The employer address is listed as:

Chicago Regional Census Center
US Census Bureau
1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite 400, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-1918

The Census Bureau is the only agency paying employees that will use the Census Income- Temporary (CT) earned income code.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/hrp/jl

IM-069 – SPEND DOWN AND TICKET TO WORK HEALTH ASSURANCE (TWHA) PREMIUM AMOUNT AS MEDICAL DEDUCTIONS FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  SPEND DOWN AND TICKET TO WORK HEALTH ASSURANCE (TWHA) PREMIUM AMOUNT AS MEDICAL DEDUCTIONS FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM                        

MANUAL REVISION #46

1115.035.15.10

 

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum provides clarification on how to treat MO HealthNet Spend Down and Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA) premium amounts when entering them as Food Stamp (FS) medical expenses.

Once the Spend Down or TWHA premium case is approved, the premium amount is considered an anticipated medical expense for the FS case.  The premium amount should be entered as a FS medical expense. 

Use the following codes to enter the TWHA or Spend Down premium amount into FAMIS on the MEDEXP (FMXA) screen:

  • Use code MC to enter the Spend Down expense.
  • Use code TW to enter the TWHA expense.

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/ks

 

 

IM-067 – BURIAL PLOTS POLICY CLARIFICATION FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  BURIAL PLOTS POLICY CLARIFICATION FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

FORM REVISION #45

1110.020.15

 

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to provide an update to the Food Stamp policy section, 1110.020.15 BURIAL PLOTS .  The update explains the exclusion of burial plots when there are multiple plots.

Each Eligibility Unit (EU) member is allowed one burial plot that is excluded as a resource for the Food Stamp (FS) program. Equity of each additional plot(s) is considered a resource. 

NOTE:  If the individual owes money on the additional burial plot(s), the amount that is owed is subtracted from the market value of the additional plot(s) and the equity amount is counted as a resource.

The FS policy manual has been updated to reflect these changes and provides an example.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/ph

IM-066 – MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) WHEN RECEIVING MEDICARE DUE TO END STAGE RENAL DISEASE

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) WHEN RECEIVING MEDICARE DUE TO END STAGE RENAL DISEASE

MANUAL REVISION #44

1060.005.00 

 

DISCUSSION:

Receipt of Medicare due to end stage renal disease (ESRD) is sufficient to establish disability for MHABD programs without a Medical Review Team (MRT) determination in most instances.

The manual has been updated to clarify when an MRT decision is required for individuals receiving Medicare due to ESRD.

An MRT decision is required for participants receiving Medicare due to ESRD only when:

  • The individual’s earned income exceeds the Substanial Gainful Activity (SGA),
  • It has been more than 12 months since the individual received a kidney transplant, or
  • The individual is no longer receiving Medicare, unless approved for SSI, SSDI, or is age eligible for MHABD.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/vb

 

 

IM-065 – VERIFICATION OF REGAINED ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  VERIFICATION OF REGAINED ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

MANUAL REVISION #43

1105.035.35

 

DISCUSSION:

This memo provides clarification to the Food Stamp Policy Manual section, 1105.035.35 Identifying and Tracking Non-Work Months.   

The policy manual has been updated with CLARIFICATION information regarding how to address verifications when determining regained eligibility.

If the individual claims yes to, “Have you or will you have worked or participated in a work program for 80 hours in a 30 day period?”, enter a “Y” on the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen.

  • When “Y” is entered on the FMMR screen, expedite benefits are allowed to be issued when otherwise eligible.

Verification that the individual has regained Food Stamp eligibility is required prior to issuing ongoing benefits.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/ks

IM-064 – HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES (HCB) INCOME UPDATE

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES (HCB) INCOME UPDATE

MANUAL REVISION #43

0820.030.15

 

DISCUSSION:

The Medical Assistance for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) manual has been updated to reflect a clarification of budgeting policy for HCB. The MHABD manual was previously updated to include several earned income deductions that do not apply to HCB.

HCB eligibility is based on an absolute income maximum.  There are no income deductions prior to comparing the gross income of the HCB individual to the HCB income limit.

FAMIS does not allow any income deductions prior to comparing gross income to the HCB income limit.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

PL/vb                                      

IM-063 – INCREASE IN AVERAGE PRIVATE PAY NURSING RATE FOR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INCREASE IN AVERAGE PRIVATE PAY NURSING RATE FOR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY                  

MANUAL REVISION #42

1040.020.40

1040.020.40.05                                                                 

APPENDIX J                                                

 

DISCUSSION:

The average private pay nursing care rate will increase to $6463.  Use $6463 to determine the number of months of ineligibility for vendor level services for applications taken on or after April 1, 2019.

The manual has also been updated to further clarify the penalty period starts in the month the transfer occurred or the month the participant would be eligible, except for the transfer penalty, whichever is later.  This penalty begin date is entered by staff on the Adult MA Penalty (PENALTY/FMWT) screen in FAMIS.

EXAMPLE 1:  Mr. Wise applied for vender care April 2018, and was approved.   May 10, 2018 he gave his home and car to his friend, Mrs. Greedy.  The transfer penalty begins the month the assets were given to Mrs. Greedy, May, 2018.

EXAMPLE 2: Mr. Mace transferred $10,000 to his friend, Mrs. Greedy in May 2018.  He entered a nursing home July 1, 2018, applied and was determined to be eligible for vendor care July 1, 2018 on all factors except the transfer.   The transfer penalty will begin July 1, 2018.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Use $6463 as the average private pay rate effective for applications on or after April 1, 2019.

 

PL/vb                         

IM-062 – FOOD STAMP DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSE CLARIFICATION

Posted on

FROM:  PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  FOOD STAMP DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSE CLARIFICATION

MANUAL REVISION #41

1115.035.10

 

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum is to clarify Food Stamp (FS) expense for a sliding scale fee when there is a dependent care case. 

When a child is authorized to a provider on a Child Care (CC) case and has a sliding scale fee, the sliding scale fee should be included as an expense for the FS case. 

  • Include the sliding scale fee expense when the child is authorized to a dependent care provider.
  • The sliding scale fee expense does not need to be reported by the Eligibility Unit (EU) before allowing the expense.
  • Do not include a sliding scale fee expense if the EU does not incur  a sliding scale.
  • Include dependent care cost that the EU incurs or is billed by the provider.

NOTE:  Review and include mileage or transportation expense for travel to and from the dependent care provider.

Dependent Care is verified by Client’s Statement (CS) unless it is otherwise questionable or inconsistent information is being reported.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Review policy updates for further clarification and examples.

 

PL/ks