Category: MoHealthNet Home

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  BLIND PENSION (BP) DRIVER LICENSE OR PERMIT AND OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE DISQUALIFICATIONS

MANUAL REVISION #05
0505.025.05
0505.025.10

DISCUSSION:         

House Bill 2171 (2018) revised Sections 209.030 and 209.040 RSMo and updated several eligibility factors for the Blind Pension (BP) program; see IM Memorandum #58 (2018) and IM Memorandum IM-09 January 25, 2019 for further details. 

This memorandum introduces further clarification for the effects on eligibility when a participant obtains a driver license, driver permit, or is determined to have operated a motor vehicle while receiving Blind Pension (BP).

Obtaining a Missouri driver license is verified by the Department of Revenue (DOR) through MODL interface.  The exchange between DOR and FAMIS is done nightly for all active BP individuals.  Licenses or permits obtained from another state or territory may be reported from other sources, and must be verified prior to imposing a disqualification.

When/if a report is received that a BP participant has been operating a motor vehicle, send the information to the BP Unit located in Lincoln County.   The BP Unit will review Case.net to confirm the issuance of a moving violation and a guilty plea or conviction.   If there is no moving violation, the BP Unit will make a referral to the Welfare Investigation Unit (WIU) to determine if there is sufficient evidence to impose a disqualification.

When an active BP participant obtains a driver license, driver permit, or is determined to have operated a motor vehicle, s/he is no longer eligible for BP and the case will be closed.  In addition the individual will be subject to progressively more severe disqualifications for each subsequent offense.

1. First offense will result in 2 year disqualification.
2. Second offense will result in 4 year disqualification.
3. Third offense will result in permanent disqualification.

NOTE: Disqualifications for obtaining a driver license or permit are sequenced separately from disqualifications for operating a motor vehicle.

EXAMPLE:  Fred receives BP.  MODL interface shows he has obtained a driver license and a disqualification is imposed for his first offense for 2 years.  After serving the 2 year disqualification, Fred reapplies and is approved.  Later the BP unit receives an anonymous report that Fred has been driving around town.  A check of Case.net verified he has received a moving violation for operating without a license, and has pled guilty.  The BP Unit will impose a disqualification for operating a motor vehicle.  This will be his first offense of this type and will last for 2 years. 

Disqualifications will be imposed and tracked manually pending coding changes to FAMIS. ONLY the BP Unit located in Lincoln County and WIU are authorized to impose a BP disqualification.  When/if another office receives a report that indicates a disqualification may be necessary, send the report to the BP Unit.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• When it is discovered that a BP participant has obtained a driver license, driver permit, or operated a motor vehicle, notify the BP Unit: Lincoln.CODFS@dss.mo.gov
• Other staff are not to enter BP disqualifications.

KE/vb

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CORRECTION OF MAXIMUM ALLOTMENT TO A COMMUNITY SPOUSE

MANUAL REVISION #03

Appendix J

DISCUSSION:

Memorandum IM172 dated December 2, 2019 included an error in the amount of the Maximum Allotment to Community Spouse effective January 1, 2020.   The correct amount is $3216.  

The following have been updated:

• Appendix J
• Medicare Cost Savings Program

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/vb

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INCREASE IN RESOURCE LIMITS FOR QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY (QMB), SPECIFIED LOW INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARY (SLMB), AND QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS (QI-1 OR SLMB2) PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #02

0865.010.00
0865.010.15

Appendix J

Appendix K

Appendix L

DISCUSSION:

Effective January 1, 2020, the QMB, SLMB, and SLMB2 resource limits increased.  For a single individual, the resource limit increased from $7,730 to $7,860.  For a married couple, the resource limit increased from $11,600 to $11,800.  Resource maximums have been updated in the Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS).  There is no change in policy regarding how to determine available resources.

The following have been updated:

• Eligibility Requirements 0865.010.00
• Resources (QMB) 0865.010.15
• Appendix J.
• Appendix K The MO HealthNet Program Description Aged, Blind, and Disabled Chart
• Appendix L MO HealthNet Aged, Blind and Disabled Income Chart

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/vb

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  FIRST RELEASE OF THE NEW MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #01

0800.000.00 to 0800.005.00 Obsolete

Section 1 Chapter 1: 1.0

Section 1 Chapter 1: 1.5

Section 1 Chapter 1: 1.10

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff of the release of sections of the new MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) Manual, and the obsoleting of sections of the old MHABD manual.  Updates include new numbering, additions of legal references, corrections of hyperlinks, and other typographical revisions.

These manual revisions contain no changes to policy.

“Old Manual Sections” listed below are now obsolete.

The manual sections below are included in this release:

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/vb

FROM:  REGINALD E. McELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  ADDITION OF FOSTER CARE INCOME TO THE UNEARNED INCOME SECTION IN THE MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, OR DISABLED (MHABD) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #134

0805.015.30

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff that Foster Care income has been added to the list of potential sources of unearned income in 0805.015.30 Unearned Income.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

RM/er

FROM:  REGINALD E. MCELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CITATION REVISION IN THE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #131

1900.020.10

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to correct the regulation citation.  The manual previously showed Section 208.151 (13) RSMo.  This has been changed to Section 208.151 (12) RSMo.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

RM/df

FROM:  REGINALD E. McELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:   INTRODUCTION OF COST RECOVERY POLICY MANUAL SECTIONS FOR THE MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #

0880.000.00

0880.005.00

0880.010.00

0880.015.00

DISCUSSION:

Participants who receive MO HealthNet for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) benefits are subject to cost recovery efforts by MO HealthNet Division (MHD). MHD is the payer of last resort and Federal and State laws allow, and in some cases require, MHD to take action to recover funds spent on participants who received medical assistance after they were 55 years old, or if they received vendor benefits at any age.

Sections were added to the MHABD policy manual:

• 000.00 Cost Recovery provides legal reference and basic information for all cost recovery efforts.
• 005.00 Estate Recovery explains effort for recovery after the death of a participant as a claim of a debt owed during the Probate Court process.
• 010.00 TEFRA Liens explains recovery efforts during the life of the participant, if receiving long term nursing home care with no expectation of release, through placing a lien on real property that the participant owns.
• 015.00 Voluntary Repayment explains the process of allowing participants to voluntarily pay MHD to maintain eligibility by decreasing resources and reducing the liability amount that would later be collected through Estate Recovery.

All cost recovery efforts are managed and overseen by MO HealthNet Division’s Cost Recovery Unit. They may be contacted directly by participants with questions or inquiries:

• Phone: 573-751-2005
• Email: CostRecovery@dss.mo.gov
• Mail: Cost Recovery Unit, PO Box 6500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-6500

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• All questions regarding this policy should follow normal supervisory channels.

RM/cj

FROM:  REGINALD E. MCELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  HYPERLINKS CORRECTED IN EMERGENCY MO HEALTHNET FOR INELIGIBLE ALIENS (EMCIA) MANUAL SECTION

MANUAL REVISION #129

1700.010.05

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to correct links in the Emergency MO HealthNet Care for Ineligible Aliens (EMCIA) manual.  The manual previously had links in manual section 1700.010.05 to the obsolete Family Healthcare (FAMIS) manual. This section is now linked to the Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) manual section.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

RM/df

FROM:  REGINALD E. McELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CORRECTION TO ACRONYM FROM HIPPA TO HIPAA

MANUAL REVISION #128

0130.005.05.11

0803.020.10

FORMS REVISION: #38

650-2616 HIPAA Instructions

650-2616LP HIPAA Instructions Large Print

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to correct the acronym used from HIPPA to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the forms manual and MO HealthNet for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) policy manual.

Instructions for forms 650-2616 (HIPAA) Authorization for Disclosure of Consumer Medical/Health Information and 650-2616 LP (HIPAA) Authorization for Disclosure of Consumer Medical/Health Information Large Print have been updated to reflect this change.

Manual sections 0130.005.05.11 Requests for Medical Records from Disability Determination Services (DDS) and 0803.020.10 Appointment of an Authorized Representative  have been updated to reflect this change.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

RM/mc