MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to introduce revisions to the Application for State Hearing (IM-87) instructions to request medical records when needed, and to note on the IM-87 when a hearing request is received more than 90 days from the date of the action notice.

Staff must have medical records to present as evidence at State Hearings related to disability determinations. For those offices served by the Springfield Medical Review Team (MRT), staff must request copies of the medical records from Springfield MRT the day the hearing request is forwarded to the Administrative Hearings Unit (AHU). This will help to ensure that local staff have the medical records in time to submit as exhibits to the AHU prior to the hearing, and to present at the hearing.

Changes were made to Number of Copies and Disposition to:

• Include instructions on hearings related to authorization for MO HealthNet coverage based on incurred expenses to meet spend down that were introduced in Income Maintenance memorandum IM-2 INTRODUCTION OF REGIONAL MO HEALTHNET SPEND DOWN UNITS (SDU)
  • For hearings on spend down incurred medical expenses scan the IM-87 and information about the hearing request such as the Notification of Spenddown Coverage (IM-29 SPDN) form to a file and e-mail as an attachment to the:
    • appropriate regional SDU manager and supervisor. The subject line of the email must be HEARING REQUEST, case name, and DCN.
    • MHN Program and Policy Unit at SPEND DOWN, MHN. The subject line of the email must be HEARING REQUEST, case name, and DCN.
• Add a bullet that informs staff to send a copy to the Springfield MRT when needed to request medical records.
  • For hearings related to Medical Review Team (MRT) disability determinations from the Springfield MRT, on the same day the IM-87 is submitted to the AHU, email a copy of the scanned IM-87 to Processing Center, MRT. They will provide copies of medical records for the hearing.

Field 10, Date of Action Notice for Which Hearing is Requested, and Field 11, Date Hearing Requested, are used to determine if the request for state hearing was received within 90 days. When the hearing request is received more than 90 days from the date of the action notice, staff must continue to submit the IM-87 to the AHU, and add a note at the top of the IM-87 form "Over 90 days."  The following was added to Field 11:

11. DATE HEARING REQUESTED: Enter the date the claimant has said in person or over the phone s/he wishes to request a hearing. It is also the date on which the agency receives a request in writing by mail, fax, e-mail, or dropped off.  

NOTE: If the hearing request is received more than 90 days after the date of action notice write on the top of the form "Over 90 days" prior to submitting to the AHU.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum and the revised Application for State Hearing (IM-87) instructions with appropriate staff.
• Begin using the revised Application for State Hearing (IM-87) instructions immediately.

ATTACHMENT:

• Application for State Hearing (IM-87) Instructions

AC/jo