Recently, DHCS updated CalHEERS and how the system determines program eligibility based on immigration status. The update removed a question asking applicants whether they are an “eligible immigrant” and added a drop-down option for those who do not have a specifically identified document or status. Instead, the updated CalHEERS asks applicants to select from a list of statuses. Counties should only follow up with an MC 13 when necessary to determine status or when an applicant selects “Document or status not listed” for both document and status choices.
This update should not change how CalHEERS determines Medi-Cal eligibility, which will be conditional for up to 90 days to verify status unless “Document or status not listed” is selected. Those applicants must get an MC 13 from the county, and the county cannot delay or deny the application if an applicant fails to respond to the MC 13.
This update will not be implemented in SAWS, so county workers will need to be able to address some of the issues that will come up when a status is not verified by the Federal Hub. DHCS’s county letter describes these situations.
DHCS ACWDL 16-21 (September 14, 2016).