Category: IM Memo

IM-113 YOUR RIGHTS AS A FOOD STAMP APPLICANT/PARTICIPANT (IM-31B) FORM UPDATED

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: YOUR RIGHTS AS A FOOD STAMP APPLICANT/PARTICIPANT (IM-31B) FORM UPDATED

FORM REVISION #
IM-31B

 

DISCUSSION:

Your Rights as a Food Stamp Applicant/Participant (IM-31B) form has been renamed to Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Household (IM-31B). The form has been redesigned to be easier to review with a participant. SNAP household responsibilities and SNAP household reporting requirements were added.

Reviewing the IM-31B with an applicant during a SNAP interview will meet the requirements in SNAP manual section 1120.005.10 Explanation of Rights and Responsibilities. The IM-31B has been added to the internal and public forms manual.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/tl

 

IM-112 CHILD CARE (CC) POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW 23 FULL TIME (FT) UNITS OF CARE FOR CHILDREN 4 AND UNDER

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CHILD CARE (CC) POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW 23 FULL TIME (FT) UNITS OF CARE FOR CHILDREN 4 AND UNDER

MANUAL REVISION #
2020.005.00

 

DISCUSSION:

Effective August 1, 2022, Child Care policy 2020.005.00 AUTHORIZATIONS is updated to allow all children four (4) years old and under to be authorized for 23 full-time day units of care as long as the applicant has a valid need for child care and meets all other eligibility factors.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

KE/hd

IM-111 ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ADDED TO REPLACEMENT REQUEST FORM IM-110 FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ADDED TO REPLACEMENT REQUEST FORM IM-110 FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

FORM REVISION #
IM-110

 

DISCUSSION:

The Replacement Request (IM-110) was updated with language to allow for an electronic signature. All SNAP replacement requests must be signed by an adult member of the household or an authorized representative to be considered valid.

In the Signature Section of the IM-110, there are new Electronic Signature Terms and Conditions with a check box for the participant to click and agree to sign the form digitally. If a participant chooses to submit the form without printing, the box under Electronic Signature Terms and Conditions must be checked and a name typed into the signature line for the signature to be valid. If the form is printed and submitted with a typed signature, the box above the signature line must be checked for the form to be considered signed.

The instructions on the back of the form have been updated with guidelines for Electronic Signatures. The IM-110 can still be printed, physically signed, and submitted by upload, fax or mail. This form is available in the public and internal forms manuals; however, it has been removed from the e-store.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Destroy all older (04/2022) versions of this form and begin using (7/2022) version immediately.

 

 

KE/tl

 

IM-110 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTANENCE (IM) PROGRAMS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTANENCE (IM) PROGRAMS

FORM REVISION #
APPENDIX J

 

DISCUSSION:

The state mileage rate used to calculate expenses for all IM programs increased from $.49 per mile to $.55 per mile effective 07/01/2022. Use the rate of $.55 per mile when calculating mileage expenses.

Effective 7/25/2022, the eligibility system has been updated to reflect the rate increase. Appendix J of the MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled manual has been updated to reflect the change.

Note: Final approval for the increased rate was received after July benefits were created. Affected cases have been adjusted to reflect this change for July 2022 and notices will be generated.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/nw

IM-109 UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE GUIDANCE FOR ALL PROGRAMS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE GUIDANCE FOR ALL PROGRAMS

 

DISCUSSION:

Due to section 401 of the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-128), Ukrainian individuals issued an immigration status of Humanitarian Parolee between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 are considered Qualified Immigrants.

Effective May 21, 2022 these individuals are not subject to the five-year waiting period for MO HealthNet (MHN), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (TA) and Child Care (CC). If an individual was paroled and entered the United States between February 24, 2022 and May 21, 2022, their date of eligibility for MHN is February 24, 2022 and for SNAP, TA, and CC it is May 21, 2022. If they entered the United States after May 21, 2022, their date of eligibility is their date of humanitarian parole but they are eligible for prior quarter for MHN. Ukrainian parolees who previously applied and were denied benefits may reapply with eligibility determined from the date of reapplication or the corresponding prior quarter dates for MHN.

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees are treated like refugees and should be coded in eligibility systems as refugees. The following documentation and codes indicate that an immigrant is a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee:

• A form I-94 noting Humanitarian Parolee;
• Foreign passport with Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Customs and Borders (DHS/CBP) admission stamp noting Uniting for Ukraine (U4U);
• Foreign passport with DHS/CBP with a stamp admitting them as a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee (UHP);
• Foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting Parolee (DT);
• A Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with code C11;
• A Form I-766 EAD with code C11; or
• A non-Ukrainian immigrant who last resided in the Ukraine, can be eligible if they provide one of the above documents AND documentation of their last habitual residence in Ukraine.

NOTE: Applications received for Humanitarian Parolees from the Ukraine must be sent to the FSD Refugee Unit at: FSDREFUGEE@ip.sp.mo.gov. Special entry is required to allow this population to be coded correctly. Do not process these applications.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/hrp

IM-108 REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY (RO) POLICY UPDATED FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PROGRAMS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY (RO) POLICY UPDATED FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #
0810.015.00
1805.000.05
1805.015.00
1830.020.00
1805.000.05.05 obsolete

FORM REVISION #
IM-40

 

DISCUSSION:

RO policy for MHN programs is updated to align policy for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) and Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) programs, and to comply with federal regulations.

Changes to MAGI and MHABD policy can be found in section 1805.000.05 Reasonable Opportunity of the MAGI Manual.

  • RO periods are extended to 95 days to allow time for mail.
  • Require a signed attestation of citizenship or immigration status before granting an RO period. A signed application serves this purpose. A new form was also created to meet this need without an application (IM-40 Citizen/National/Eligible Immigrant Attestation), and can be located in the internal forms manual.
  • Allow RO for identity when identity is required for the purpose of verifying citizenship/eligible immigrant status (such as when the participant only provides a birth certificate.)
  • Include specific language on benefit approval letters when a participant’s coverage is approved pending verification of citizenship, nationality, or eligible immigrant status.
    • Changes to the eligibility systems to automate this process are pending. When the changes are complete, Program and Policy will issue an update.
      • Until the changes are complete, send a manual approval letter with the specific language to all participants approved while pending verification of citizenship, nationality, or eligible immigrant status. Refer to 1805.000.05 Reasonable Opportunity for specific language.
    • Save a copy of the manual letter in the electronic case record and document the letter.
  • Do not limit RO periods per participant.

EXAMPLE: Rita attested to citizenship on her application and was given a 95-day RO period to provide her birth certificate. She did not provide the document or request an extension so her coverage closed. She reapplied and was given another 95-day RO period.

1805.000.05.05 has been obsoleted in the MAGI manual.

1830.020.00 Prior Quarter (PQ) and 0810.015.00 Prior Quarter Coverage are updated to allow RO during PQ months, if ongoing coverage is approved.

1805.015.00 Social Security Number (SSN) contains an update for MAGI cases:

  • Do not allow an RO period for a Social Security Number (SSN).

EXCEPTION: Continue to allow an RO period for Newborns without an SSN.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Review FAMIS and MEDES Resources for related guides.

 

KE/ers

IM-107 NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS FLEXIBILITY APPROVED FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PROGRAMS

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS FLEXIBILITY APPROVED FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #
0890.005.00
1895.005.00                   

 

DISCUSSION:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) request to implement the following address change flexibility to promote retention of eligible MHN individuals. This flexibility will remain in effect through the Public Health Emergency (PHE) unwinding period.

Using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) National Change of Address (NCOA) Database and USPS Returned Mail to Update Beneficiary Contact Information

Accept updated participant in-state contact information received from NCOA or USPS returned mail as reliable without additional confirmation from the participant. In-state address changes reported by NCOA or USPS returned mail should be updated without first sending a notice to the participant address on file.

Address changes due to the NCOA report will be handled by contracted staff.  Family Support Division (FSD) staff may see comments made by contracted staff in the eligibility system regarding an address change.  FSD staff continue to be responsible for returned mail showing an out of state address or indication that the participant is deceased.

The MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled manual section 0890.005.00 Unwinding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE) and the Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) manual section 1895.005.00 Unwinding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE) have been updated to add this memo.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/sh

IM-106 CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) AND UNWINDING THE COVID-19 PHE MANUAL SECTIONS ADDED TO THE MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) AND FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) MANUALS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) AND UNWINDING THE COVID-19 PHE MANUAL SECTIONS ADDED TO THE MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) AND FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) MANUALS

MANUAL REVISION #
0890.000.00
0890.005.00
1895.000.00
1895.005.00

 

DISCUSSION:

The MHABD and MAGI Manuals have been updated to add sections regarding the COVID-19 PHE and Unwinding the COVID-19 PHE. The COVID-19 PHE manual sections house links to related COVID-19 memos. Memos related to the COVID-19 unwinding period will be placed in the unwinding the COVID-19 PHE manual sections.

The following manual sections have been added:

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/sh

IM-105 FLEXIBILITIES APPROVED FOR FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) APPLICATION PROCESSING

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: FLEXIBILITIES APPROVED FOR FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) APPLICATION PROCESSING

 

DISCUSSION:

Effective immediately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Missouri Department of Social Services’ request (DSS) to utilize the following flexibilities to simplify the processing of MO HealthNet (MHN) applications for MAGI programs.

These flexibilities are for MHN applications, including pending applications, received through the end of the public health emergency (PHE) unwinding period. Specific dates for the unwinding period will be determined once the PHE has ended.

1. Enrolling Parents Into Medicaid Based on Children’s Income Eligibility

Parents who have submitted an application for MHN will be considered income eligible for MAGI without further verification of income if:

• They have a child enrolled in MHN;
• The last determination of household income for the child is at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL);
• The parent is in the child’s household; and
• The parent meets all other eligibility requirements for MAGI including but not limited to:

o Under age 65;
o Not pregnant;
o Not eligible for Medicare; and
o Meets Citizenship/Identity requirements (refer to MAGI manual section 1805.020.00 Citizenship and Immigrant Status).

2. Targeted Enrollment SNAP Strategy

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants who have submitted an application for MHN will be considered income-eligible for MAGI without further verification of income if:

• The participant is under 65;
• The participant’s gross income as determined by SNAP is under the applicable MAGI income standard; and
• The participant meets all other eligibility factors including but not limited to Citizenship/Identity requirements.

NOTE: Additional information regarding application processing with the flexibilities listed above will be released to staff in a separate email.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Review 1805.020.00 Citizenship and Immigrant Status on allowable documentation to verify citizenship and identity.

KE/sh

IM-104 POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

MANUAL REVISION #
0105.010.00
0203.020.00
1120.025.00
1802.020.05
1802.020.15

 

DISCUSSION:

An electronic or typed signature is considered a valid signature for MHN, TA, and SNAP documents when accompanied with an attestation. The attestation must accompany any typed signature and state that the electronic or typed signature has the same legal effect and can be enforced the same as a handwritten signature.

NOTE: At this time, FSD CANNOT accept an electronic or typed signature on the Authorization for Disclosure of Consumer Medical/Health Information (MO 650-2616).

Policy has been updated to allow electronic or typed signatures:

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/cj