MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce revised sections on cash and securities in the December 1973 Manual for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled. A work group of eligibility specialists and county managers revised the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements and the Vendor Eligibility Sections of the manuals.

The Cash and Securities sections were revised to:

• reflect the program name change from Medical Assistance to MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled;
• update terminology from claimant to participant and caseworker to eligibility specialist; and
• add information on FAMIS processes.

Additional information was added to existing sections as follows:

• 1025.010.00 Definition
  • Do not exclude outstanding checks from account balances.
  • Determine if note is sellable or if it was a transfer.
• 1025.015.01 Cash Remaining from an Assistance Check or Other Budgeted Monthly Income.
  • Income added to a direct benefit care would be considered as if it were deposited into a checking account.
• 1025.015.04 Trust Funds and Restricted Accounts.
  • As part of the annual review, eligibility specialists must review trusts, like any other assets, to determine if there has been a change in the trust that would affect eligibility. Explore any amendments or changes that have occurred to the trust or in administration of the trust. If changes or amendments have occurred, send the original trust documents and amendments or changes as an attachment with a Request for Interpretation of Policy (IM-14) form by email to FSD.IM14@dss.mo.gov to determine availability of the resources held in the trust.

The following new sections were added:

• 1025.015.04.01 Special Needs Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, and Pooled Trusts
  • Provides information on specific types of trusts.
• 1025.015.04.01.01 Missouri Family Trust Fund (Midwest Special Needs Trust)
  • Incorporates existing policy on Midwest Special Needs Trust.
• 1025.015.06 Business Accounts in Financial Institutions
  • Clarifies when business accounts are not considered an available resource.
• 1025.015.11 Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) Account
  • Clarifies income and resources from an SSI Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) are excluded for MHABD, SNC, and SAB. Blind or disabled SSI recipients may have a plan in writing and approved by the Social Security Administration to set aside money for a certain amount of time for a work goal to help them achieve self-support.
• 1025.015.12 Dedicated Accounts for SSI Recipients Under Age 18
  • Clarifies dedicated accounts and that any funds in an SSI dedicated account are not considered an available resource for all MO HealthNet programs.
• 1025.015.13 Uniform Gift to Minor Accounts
  • Accounts established under the Missouri Transfers to Minors Law are not considered as an available resource until the child is 21 years of age.
• 1025.015.14 Proceeds from a Bona fide Loan
  • Explains when a transaction is considered a bona fide loan.
• 1025.015.14.01 Reverse Mortgages
  • Payments from a reverse mortgage are not considered as income or a resource for the month that the payment is received.
• 1025.015.15 Agent Orange Settlement Payments
  • Payments made from the Agent Orange Settlement Fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the In Re: Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y.) shall not be considered income or resources in determining eligibility for or the amount of benefits under any state or state-assisted program.
• 1025.015.16 Special Consideration For MHABD Vendor Approvals
  • A nursing facility resident whose care is being paid by Medicare may acquire resources which could exceed the limit of $999.99.

We appreciate the work of the field staff which included Dennis French, Kathy Kelch, Pat Niner, Terri Luna, Monica Whaley, Glenda Wiese, and Jane Claas and thank them for their contributions to the Family Support Division.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

AC/vb