Author: Stephen Goldberg

COVID-19 individual stimulus payment for dependents of SSI and VA recipients

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a special alert that SSI and VA benefits recipients must register on the IRS portal by May 5, 2020 to get the $500 per dependent payment at the same time as their individual stimulus payment.  After May 5, 2020, Social Security recipients the IRS portal will no longer be available to enter dependent information for SSI and VA benefits recipients.  After May 5, 2020, SSI and VA benefits recipients will only be able to get the $500 per dependent payment by filing a 2020 tax return in 2021.  Note that the IRS did not say when on May 5 the portal would close for SSI and VA benefits recipients registering to get the $500 dependent payment.

For Social Security and Railroad Retirement recipients, the deadline to register on the IRS portal to get the $500 dependent payment was April 22.  Social Security and Railroad Retirement recipients who missed that deadline can only get the $500 dependent payment by filing a 2020 tax return in 2021.  (IR 2020-81, April 24, 2020.)

COVID-19 CHDP Gateway enrollment

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The Child Health and Disability Program (CHDP) provides health assessments for early detection and prevention of disease and disabilities for low-income children and youth.  The CHDP Gateway is an automated pre-enrollment process for children who are not on Medi-Cal to enroll in Medi-Cal.  The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has authorized telephonic signatures for CHDP Gateway applications.  If the individual is not at the provider’s office and not experiencing an urgent health event which requires immediate care, the individual can apply for Medi-Cal online using the Covered California portal.  (DHCS notice, April 17, 2020.)

COVID-19 Medi-Cal Presumptive Eligibility for Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program

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The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is allowing telephonic signatures Every Woman Counts and Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment program providers enrolling individuals for Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program.  A copy of the final pathology report with the qualifying diagnosis must be submitted.  (DHCS notice, April 17, 2020.)

COVID-19 Medi-Cal Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women

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The Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women program allows qualified individuals immediate access to temporary, no cost Medi-Cal for conditions related to pregnancy while applying for permanent Medi-Cal or other coverage.  The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is allowing telephonic signatures for Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women.  If the individual is not experiencing an urgent prenatal care event which requires immediate care, the individual can apply for Medi-Cal online using the Covered California portal.  (DHCS notice, April 16, 2020.)

COVID-19 Medi-Cal Hospital Presumptive Eligibility flexibility

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The Hospital Presumptive Eligibility Program (HPE) allows qualified individuals immediate access to temporary, no cost Medi-Cal while applying for permanent Medi-Cal or other coverage.  The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is allowing telephonic signatures for Medi-Cal Hospital Presumptive Eligibility.  If the individual is not at the hospital and not experiencing an urgent health event which requires immediate care, the individual can apply for Medi-Cal online using the Covered California portal.  (DHCS notice, April 2, 2020.)

COVID-19 waiver of prior authorization for Med-Cal Fee-for-Service

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The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has temporarily suspended prior authorization requirements for Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service for all Medi-Cal covered benefit categories covered in the state plan that are currently subject to prior authorization.  Providers must still submit Treatment Authorization Requests (TAR) and Service Authorization Requests (SAR).  Providers should state “Patient impacted by COVID-19” on the TAR or SAR.  These TARs and SARs can be submitted after services have been provided, and will be expedited and approved as appropriate.  Providers must still submit supporting documentation to justify the need or medical necessity.

For TARs that have already been authorized that need an extension, providers can update the TAR with the statement “Patient impacted by COVID-19.”  (DHCS Letter, April 2, 2020.)