After DDSD-SP concludes its disability determination, it returns copies of its decisional documents to the county office. This letter addresses the security and HIPAA concerns over the increase in request for duplicate decision documents. The county is asked to first look for their copy of the document (!), and then if it can’t be located, to send a fax request for a duplicate on county letterhead. [Download]

A reminder to the counties about the most efficient ways to process Presumptive Disability (PD) determinations. There are two ways to qualify for PD: the applicant has a condition that qualifies under PD; or DDSD-SP determines that the applicant has a qualifying condition not listed in the MEPM Article 22 C-3.  If an applicant has an impairment/medical condition that is not listed under the 15 impairment categories that the county can determine PD, the county can request DDSD-SP to evaluate the person for PD eligibility, because DDSD-SP is not restricted to the 15 impairment categories, unlike the county. [Download]

Busted.  During a privacy and security assessment, DHCS found that some CWDs provided the MEDS accounts to clinic staff for purposes other than administering the Medi-Cal Program. The county clinic staff were using the MEDS system to perform Medi-Cal eligibility verifications for provider billing purposes. This is not an appropriate use, and counties are to terminate access immediately. [Download]