The incredibly LONG title of this ACL matches the incredibly LONG ACL. 54 pages of details about the Share of Cost (SOC) issues stemming from the IHSS plus waiver. There are some key tidbits buried in the extensive acronym- and form-laden text, so, sorry, but you should at least skim it. For example, the Medi-Cal SOC “buy out” (where a person pays only the IHSS SOC and not the higher Medi-Cal one) is calculated only once a month, and once that’s done it won’t be changed for the current or prior months. Also, the IHSS SOC will no longer automatically be deducted from the wages. Rather, the IHSS computer system will check first for Medi-Cal Point of Service deductions, and then determine the remaining spenddown amount to deduct from the provider wages. This change in turn, has generated the need for two new notices: one to the recipient to explain how much is owed the provider, and one to the provider saying how much is owed for the work. Good luck! [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
IHSS
ACIN I-21-06 – Protective Supervision Form (April 4, 2006)
Back of the new “Quality Assurance Initiative,” the state was required to develop a standard form to get the appropriate certification for a person’s need for Protective Supervision. Here it is! Counties are to use the form at the initial assessment when the county worker identifies the potential need for Protective Supervision. If the doc fails to return the form, the county “shall make its determination of need based on the available evidence.” [Download]
ACIN I-28-06 – IHSS Q & A Regarding Eligibility and Assessment (April 11, 2006)
Fun stuff about the changes thanks to the “Plus Waiver” program (called “IHSS-IPW”). Things like “in how many waivers may a person participate” (one 1115, several 1915’s, but never more than one 1115), who stays in residual IHSS, and whether they get state Medi-Cal, issues regarding parental/spousal care providers. Of note: parents can work, but not full-time, to get paid through IHH-IPW, and protective supervision and respite care hours are permissible. [Download]
ACL 06-03 – Workers’ Compensation and IHSS providers (March 10, 2006)
Skipping the gory details, “the changes in SB 899 affect every employee in the State of California.” One change involves Worker’s Comp (“WC”) “Return to Work” programs. This impacts some, but not all, IHSS providers, as some, but not all, receive employer (i.e. state) provided workers’ comp. The State must provide WC to IHSS providers in the Individual Provider (IP) and the County Contract Modes. Accordingly, the State shall provide Return-to-Work and Supplemental Job Displacement benefits for these two modes. In addition, the State shall be responsible for the requirements to offer modified/alternative work to an injured employee under the IP Mode. Those program benefits are also described in the ACIN. [Download]
ACIN I-04-06 Quality Assurance (QA) Initiative Fraud Detection And Prevention Activities (January 23, 2006)
This ACIN provides information on how counties can/should be implementing the anti-fraud provisions in SB 1104 and existing rules to prevent and pursue IHSS fraud. Just so you know what the counties will be up to. … Includes ability to collect non-fraudulent overpayments against the chore provider. [Download]
ACL 05-35 – Interim Share of Cost Process For In-Home Supportive Services (October 28, 2005)
How the interim share of cost process for the In-Home Supportive Services Residual/Personal Care Services Program/In-Home Supportive Services Plus Waiver (IHSS-R/PCSP/IHSS+) will operate until automation of the Case Management, Information, and Payrolling System (CMIPS) is completed. Recipients will be receiving two notices, one from IHSS and one from Medi-Cal re: their share of cost. The letter has technical details about the new processes for “buy out” and “Spendown” as it relates to the new system and share of cost. If you do Medi-Cal or IHSS, just read this! It is anticipated that automation of CMIPS will be completed in late Spring 2006. [Download]