CMSP will not makes changes to the “optional” benefits that are being eliminated from the Medi-Cal program for most adults. In fact effective 10/08 CMSP added general anesthesia and crowns to their dental benefits and upped the vision benefit to include unlimited repair of eyeglasses and frames. As of 1/1/09 the mental health benefits were increased from a three day limit per inpatient hospital admission to 6 days per admission; the 10 day yearly cap did not change. Blue Cross is now Anthem Blue Cross. [Download]

This letter includes long awaited updated pages of the CMSP eligibility manual. [Download]

Several ARRA related payments will be excluded from income determination by CMSP. The payments are: Unemployment insurance benefits increase of $25; one time payment of $250 to SS, SSI, Veterans disability payment and railroad retirement recipients; $250 tax credit for state and federal employees. [Download]

This ACL reminds CMSP workers to supply form CMSP 209 to any CMSP applicant who claims to have received emergency medical services ten days prior to the first of the month in which they applied, and 209A to any client in that situation with a share of cost. The letter gives instructions on how to fill out the form and points out frequent faults in how the form is filled out. [Download]