DHCS ACWDL 13-25: January 2014 Social Security Title II and Title XVI COLA and Related Issues

Reminds counties that Medically Needy Medi-CAl cases with Title II income must have the Share of Cost adjusted effective 1/1/14.  Instructions for how to apply the COLA to these cases are included.  Importantly, note that the COLA is NOT to be applied to A&D FPL, FPL-Blind, Medicare Savings Programs, 200 Percent Women and Infants, children’s FPL programs – these cases should NOT have the COLA applied until the 2014 FPL rates are published.  Also, the COLA should not be applied to MAGI Medi-Cal cases as they have no redeterminations before April 2014. Read the full letter here.

DHCS ACWDL 13-18: Medi-Cal and Related Programs for State and County Inmates

While LSNC does not represent state or county inmates, the letter also provides information about Medi-Cal eligibility for parolees and babies born to inmates. The letter specifies that inmates who had eligibility through Medi-Cal Inmate Eligibility Program (MCIEP), who are entitled to an SB87 review of their eligibility when they are paroled.  Parolees who were on the Low Income Health Program (LIHP) as inmates and were transitioned to Medi-Cal keep their eligibility until redetermination.  Babies born to inmates on MCIEP are also deemed Medi-Cal eligible for one year.  View the full letter here.

DHCS All Plan Letter 13-013: Continuity of Care for New Enrollees Transitioned Into Managed Care After Requesting a Medical Exemption

Informs Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs)operating in Geographic Managed Care or Two Plan counties (not County Organization Health Systems, like Partnership) that they must ensure continuity of care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries transitioning from Fee For Service. MCPs must provide beneficiaries with the completion of certain covered services that the beneficiary was receiving from a non-contracted provider for up to 12 months when the beneficiary has an acute condition, serious chronic condition, is pregnant, has a terminal illness, is a newborn, or has a planned surgery.  The letter directs plans that all Medical Exemption Requests are to be treated as requests for continuity of care.  The full letter is available here.

DHCS All Plan Letter 13-011: Ensuring Access to Transgender Services

This letter (available here) reminds Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans to communicate to its provider networks and subcontractors the requirement that transgender services (including psychotherapy, continuous hormone therapy, laboratory testing to monitor hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery that is not cosmetic in nature) be made available to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Criteria for medical necessity is based on the most current WPATH “Standards of Care for Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People.”

DHCS MEDIL No. 13-07: Extension of Former Foster Care Children’s (FFCC) Program

This MEDIL provides guidance to counties on the expansion of the FFCC program to comply with federal law, which requires that, starting January 1, 2014, former foster youth be covered by Medi-Cal up to age 26.  DHCS has directed counties to grant an additional six months eligibility minimum for former foster youth set to age out of the FFCC program between July 1, 2013 and December 31, 2103.  The letter can be downloaded here.