Treatment of income from Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs for various program

Payments issued under the State Funded Guaranteed Income (GI) Pilot Program are exempt from being considered income and resource for various state and local benefit and assistance programs. There are seven pilot programs to support former foster youth and or pregnant individuals. This CDSS guidance only applies to State Funded Guaranteed Income (GI) Pilot Programs.

Cal Fresh: GI payments will not count as income but may count as resources.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD): HUD denied a waiver that would exempt payments from determinations. HUD did provide a list of options that may exempt GI.

Medical and Children’s Health Insurance Program: The federal government gave approval to disregard payments from a California pilot GI project as income for 12 months for Non-Magi eligibility. Medi-Cal will no longer count resources as an eligibility determination as of January 1,2024. Former foster youth are eligible for Medi-Cal regardless of income.

Refugee Cash Assistance: GI payments will not count as income or resources.

Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: The Administration of Children and Families may approve a GI exemption for individual’s tribes through an amendment to a tribes Tribal Family Assistance Plan

Women Infants and Children (WIC): If the person is currently enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalWORKs or Cal Fresh no income assessment is needed because participants in those programs are categorically eligible for WIC. If a WIC recipient is not enrolled in one of those programs, GI income may impact eligibility.

GI payments are exempt from all state benefit or assistance programs. This includes but is not limited to Assistance Dog Special Allowance, CalWORKs, Cash Assistance Programs for Immigrants, Trafficking and Crime Assistance Programs (TCVAP), California Food Assistance Program, and Childcare and Development Programs.

GI payments received under the pilot program cannot consider income or resources for any local befit or assistance program. This includes but is not limited to. General Assistance and General Relief (GA/GR).  (ACWDL, July 21, 2023.)

COVID-19 CCS guidance

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has issued guidance regarding California Childrens Services and Special Care Centers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Policies issued by DHCS regarding Medi-Cal services apply to CCS when Medi-Cal beneficiaries are seeking services from CCS paneled providers.

All DHCS telehealth policies for Medi-Cal services apply to CCS.  Medically necessary CCS services can be delivered in-person or by telehealth.  CCS providers and SCCs should implement telehealth to provide remote consultation during the public health emergency.  DHCS and managed care plans must reimburse CCS providers at the same rate whether services are provided in person or by telehealth if the service is the same regardless of how it is delivered.

The requirement for an in-person Annual Team Conference for SCCs is suspended for the duration of the public health emergency.  DHCS has waived the requirement for an Annual Team Conference as a precondition for authorization of other new or re-authorized services for CCS clients.

CCS hearings may be conducted by phone or video conference.

DHCS is temporarily suspending prior authorization requirements.  Treatment Authorization Requests (TAR) and Service Authorization Requests (SAR) are still required but may be submitted after the date of service.

Telehealth may be used for visits related to a durable medical equipment order, including repairs and supplies.  TAR/SAR can be submitted retrospectively.

DHCS is providing flexibility for High Risk Infant Follow-up (HRIF) services for clinic to use individual approaches for follow-up services.  The age-out limit for HRIF is extended so that the third and final standard visit may be performed up to age 42 months.  (DHCS notice, April 28, 2020.)

COVID-19 CCS MTP guidance

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has provided temporary direction regarding California Children’s Services (CCS) Medical Therapy Programs (MTP) because of COVID-19.  CCS MTPs can provide physical and occupational therapy services in non-school settings.  County CCS MTPs should implement telehealth methods to allow therapists to provide remove consultation and treatment for routine therapy and equipment needs.

Prior authorization requirements for physical therapy and occupational therapy are temporarily suspended.  However, Treatment Authorization Requests and Service Authorization Requests are still required.  Providers are instructed to state “Patient impacted by COVID-19” in the TAR or SAR.  Providers must still provide supporting documentation of medical necessity.

MTCs should be held remotely instead of face-to-face conferences.  Prescriptions for durable medical equipment that expire during the COVID-19 state of emergency can be extended without a face-to-face meeting with the physician.  (DHCS notice, April 23, 2020, revised April 29, 2020.)

COVID-19 CHDP Gateway enrollment

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 hospice requirements

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is temporarily waiving certain licensing requirement for hospice care because of COVID-19 until the end of the state of emergency.  A hospice that has submitted an application for initial licensure, additional location or change of service may begin providing care prior to obtaining approval and licensure by CDPH.  A licensee that as applied to CDPH for renewal of a license, or reinstatement of a license that has been voluntarily suspended, may begin or continue providing care prior to obtaining approval of the renewal or reinstatement by CDPH.

Health examinations, TB testing and background checks for new employees are temporarily suspended.  The hospice must ensure each employee completes these actions no later than 30 days after the end of the state of emergency.

Hospices are temporarily not required to provide volunteer services.

Hospice providers will have flexibility in how they provide basic services to patients, including providing services by telehealth or other remote methods.

Hospice providers may temporarily use health care professionals regulated under the Healing Arts division of the Business and Professions Code.

Small and rural hospices may temporarily provide services to no more than 50 patients per year.  (AFL 20-47, April 23, 2020.)