During the COVID-19 emergency, IHSS allowed assessments and reassessments to be completed over the phone or by video to reduce risks. When the emergency ended in February 2023, in-person assessments resumed, but both recipients and counties saw how useful the telehealth option was. To continue offering that flexibility, CDSS worked with partners and received federal approval in May 2024 to permanently allow telehealth reassessments under Medicaid rules. This authority extends to IHSS and related programs. In October 2024, CDSS issued ACL 24-72, which sets out the policy and eligibility criteria for this new option.
To support the change, CDSS is updating systems like CMIPS, the Electronic Services Portal, and the Telephone Timesheet System. A new tool called the Reassessment Workspace was added in CMIPS to help case workers track reassessments, review telehealth eligibility, and gather additional information through online or phone questionnaires.
Counties are required to handle telehealth reassessments the same way they would in person assessments, following ACL 24-72. The recipient must be in their home environment while the reassessment takes place. If staff cannot see the recipient or their home during the call, they must ask detailed questions to collect the same information they would have observed if an in-person assessment had taken place, and record it in the case file.
Counties also have to:
- Keep case records current so the system can confirm eligibility.
- Apply the Stable Care Needs criteria outlined in ACL 24-72, or determine if the recipient qualifies for an exception.
- Place the recipient’s health and safety above all when deciding if a telehealth assessment is appropriate.
- Ensure forms are properly signed. Electronic signatures are acceptable if e-forms are used, but if not, paper forms must be mailed or delivered for completion.
This option allows eligible recipients to choose telehealth for reassessments, giving them more flexibility while ensuring counties still meet state and federal requirements for accuracy, safety, and program compliance. (ACL 25-55, July 24, 2025.)