MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce a new verification option for resources when conducting annual MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, Disabled (MHABD) reinvestigations.  This option is not applicable to initial application procedures.  This option is applicable to all variations of MHABD with a resource limit, including Vendor and Blind Pension programs.

Requirements to Accept Participant Attestation

Effective immediately, participant's attestation of the value of a resource may be accepted as sufficient verification at an MHABD annual reinvestigation IF (all criteria must be met):

• The resource has been previously verified using Hard Copy (HC), Collateral Contact (CC), Telephone Call (TC) or Interface (IN) and
• The attested value of the resources does not create ineligibility for the participant and
• The value is not in question based upon the existing case file.

New or Previously Unverified Resources

If the resource is new or previously unverified, use application verification procedures.  Once verified in this manner, participant attestation may be used at the next annual reinvestigation if it meets the criteria.

Income Generating Resources

If the resource has been previously verified to generate income or income is declared at the reinvestigation on a previously verified resource, participant attestation may be used to verify the resource but the income, such as interest, must be verified for the income determination of the review.

Annuities and Trusts

All annuities and trusts must still be submitted through Program and Policy to determine resource and income stream consideration. If the declared value of the resource or the declared value of the combined resources exceeds the resource limit for the program, hard copy verification must be obtained prior to issuing an Adverse Action to terminate or change benefits.

FAMIS Entries

At this time, FAMIS programming does not recognize Client Statement (CS) as a valid verification code for most resources.  Until FAMIS is reprogrammed, field staff should use Collateral Contact (CC) and make a thorough comment regarding accepting the participant's attestation.

EXAMPLE:  Carmen Smith has received MHABD Non Spend Down coverage since November 2014.  She has one bank account at Great Southern.  At the November 2015 annual reinvestigation, the Eligibility Specialist (ES) verified her bank account balance as $175.15 and no interest was showing on the bank statement provided, nor was any declared on the reinvestigation form.  When she submitted her November 2016 annual reinvestigation form, Carmen listed the same account at Great Southern, wrote a balance of $312.00 and still did not list any interest.  This is the only declared resource and is consistent with information verified in the existing file.  When completing the REINVEST screens for this resource in FAMIS, the ES will enter $312 as the Gross Amount, the Begin Date will be the date of the returned reinvestigation form and CC will be entered in the Ver field.  The ES makes the following comment:  "Carmen's bank account was verified previously. She declared $312 at the reinvestigation received on XX/XX/XX.  This amount is below the resource limit, is consistent with the file and is not in question.  ES accepting this as reasonable verification."  No further verification would be needed for this resource.

Questions or Clarifications should be submitted through normal supervisory channels to Income Maintenance Program and Policy as needed. 

Manual Updates are forthcoming.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin implementing the new verification procedure for MHABD annual reinvestigations only.

PL/mah