SB 1339 codified the Medi-Cal Intercounty Transfer (ICT) process, effective June 1, 2017. Medi-Cal beneficiaries must notify either the county they are leaving (sending county) or the county to which they are moving (receiving county) of a change in residence. Once this happens, it is the responsibility of the notified county to initiate an ICT for all public benefits within seven business days of notice of new residence.
The bill prohibits counties from requiring the beneficiary to reapply for Medi-Cal benefits in the receiving county. Benefits must continue without interruption during the ICT process. The ICT must be completed no later than the first day of the next available benefit month following the 30 days after the beneficiary’s initial notification of change in residence.
If a beneficiary moves and is still enrolled in a managed care plan from the sending county, the beneficiary should continue to have access to emergency services and authorized out-of-network coverage until the ICT is processed and the beneficiary is disenrolled from the plan. If the beneficiary needs non-emergency care the same month in the new county, the Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman should disenroll the beneficiary from the plan on an expedited basis. Changes requested by phone to the Ombudsman will be effective within two business days of processing the request.
If an individual household member moves out of the county, Medi-Cal eligibility must continue uninterrupted. For short-term changes, counties can update the address; this does not initiate an ICT. If an individual beneficiary moves to a new county but continues to be claimed as a member of a tax household in their former county, the county will update the individual’s address only. This is not considered an ICT, but the individual will be able to enroll in a health plan in the new county while remaining in the existing case.
DHCS ACWDL 18-02 (January 11, 2018).