MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum introduces new procedures for applications received from inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC). The Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Support Division (FSD) have collaborated to establish a process for completing applications for inmates. Inmates may also be referred to as offenders or Justice-involved individuals.

The FSD has designated staff in the Springfield Processing Center, who will process MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) applications, and in the Ozark Processing Center, who will process all applications which use MAGI methodology.

There are two types of applications that will be received from DOC inmates:

• PRE-RELEASE : Inmate who is expected to be released within 90 days.
• INPATIENT: Inmate who has had an inpatient stay of 24 hours or more at a medical facility outside the DOC.

PRE-RELEASE

Income Maintenance memorandum IM-105 Department of Corrections Inmate Early Application for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled dated November 7, 2007 introduced the partnership between DOC and FSD to allow early MHN applications by inmates prior to release into the community.

Effective immediately, applications will no longer be sent to Central Office for logging and distribution. All pre-release applications will now be sent by email to:  FSD.INMATEPRE@DSS.MO.GOV

INPATIENT

Inmates in the custody of the DOC, who require an inpatient hospitalization or who are admitted as an inpatient in a nursing facility, juvenile psychiatric facility or intermediate care facility outside the DOC facility for 24 hours or more, may be eligible for MHN coverage if they meet all other eligibility guidelines. Refer to Income Maintenance Memorandum IM-13 MEDICAID/MC+ COVERAGE FOR INMATES OF A PUBLIC INSTITUTION dated January 20, 2000.

Effective November 1, 2014, the DOC began assisting inmates to complete applications for MO HealthNet (MHN) programs when it is anticipated the inmate will be admitted to a hospital or other medical institution outside the DOC facility. These applications will be forwarded to FSD when the inmate is returned to the correctional facility after an inpatient stay of 24 hours or more. These inmates are eligible only for the dates they are inpatient in the medical facility. All applications will be submitted by email to: FSD.INMATEHOSPAPP@DSS.MO.GOV. Applications will be processed and eligibility determined. Eligibility will be entered for only those dates the inmate was an inpatient.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN OTHER OFFICES

In the event an application is received for an inmate by any other office, the receiving office will scan and email the application as an attachment to:

• FSD.INMATEHOSPAPP@DSS.MO.GOV for inmates admitted as inpatient for 24 hours or more outside a DOC facility, or
• FSD.INMATEPRE@DSS.MO.GOV for pre-release applications.

Paper applications will be date stamped upon receipt, registered, scanned along with all accompanying documents and emailed to the appropriate email address listed above. The email subject line must be “Inmate application” and the body of the email must contain the name of the applicant, their DCN and the date of the application.  If the application includes a large number of medical records, or a visual field exam, forward the hard copy of those items to:

Medical Review Team
101 Park Central Square
Springfield MO 65806

Electronic applications will have a comment entered by the receiving eligibility specialist (ES) on the individual’s client contact tab in the Missouri Eligibility Determination and Enrollment System (MEDES) to explain that case was transferred as applicant is incarcerated. The ES will send an email to the appropriate email address listed above. The email subject line must be “Inmate application” and the body of the email must contain the name of the applicant, their DCN, the date of the application, and where the application can be viewed.

NOTE: Forward applications only for incarcerated head of households (HOH).

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin sending NEW inmate applications to FSD.INMATEPRE@DSS.MO.GOV or FSD.INMATEHOSPAPP@DSS.MO.GOV.

AC/VB