Instructions regarding the new State Utility Assistance Subsidy (SUAS) program. Lists how to cover recipients during the transfer period from LIHEAP Heat and Eat to SUAS. The SUAS payment ($20.01) is only to be provided to those households who will actually receive additional CalFresh benefits or become eligible for CalFresh as a result of receiving the payment. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 14-76: Implementation Of Provisions Of Senate Bills 855 And 873 Relating To The IHSS And Waiver Personal Care Services Programs (10/8/14)
Instructions on the AB 855 and SB 873 limit on the number of authorized hours providers in the IHSS and and Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) programs are permitted to work in a workweek. The letter provides information and instructions for implementing new policies that require that IHSS/WPCS providers receive compensation for travel time and wait time under certain circumstances. Included are new and revised forms and notices to be used by counties in implementing the new policies. [Download]
ACL 14-68: IHSS Advance Pay And Provider Enrollment Requirements (11/3/14)
Instructions on the prohibition of using Advance Pay money to pay Individual Providers who have not completed the IHSS provider enrollment process and have not enrolled as IHSS providers, and a review of the time sheet rules. The Advance Pay option allows eligible IHSS recipients (described in the letter) to get a direct monthly IHSS payment , in order to pay providers at the time services are rendered. When in Advance Pay the provider’s time sheets must be sent it at the end of each authorized service month. If the recipient fails to submit the provider’s time sheets, within 90 days from the date of payment, the county shall have the right to change the recipient’s payment delivery method from payment in advance to payment in arrears. [Download]
DHCS MEDIL I 14-48: Hospital Presumptive Eligibility (HPE) Program Medi-Cal Eligibility Data Systems (MEDS) Pending Application Transaction – Extension of Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Period (10/1/14)
DHCS issued this letter to remind counties to extend eligibility for Hospital Presumptive Eligibility individuals who have applied for Medi-Cal beyond the two months allotted under HPE. HPE beneficiaries who submit a timely application should not lose coverage. Counties need to send the appropriate transaction to MEDS in order to prevent MEDS from automatically terminating the HPE beneficiary; CalHEERS should automatically submit the appropriate transaction to MEDS.
DHCS ACWDL 14-35: 2015 Redeterminations for Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Cases and Non-MAGI/MAGI Mixed (Medi-Cal Mixed) Cases (9/29/14)
DHCS issued this letter to the counties regarding interim policies and procedures for Non-MAGI and Mixed Medi-Cal cases. Counties are to conduct ex parte reviews by consulting electronic records and information in other open cases (e.g., CalFresh, CalWORKS). Potential MAGI beneficiaries must be evaluated for MAGI. Non-MAGI beneficiaries will need a property evaluation. Where no MAGI eligibility exists, counties will make a SAWS determination on the case.
Where no member of the household is in LTC, county will send a Medi-Cal Annual Redetermination (MC 210 RV) with a 60 day return period and relevant beneficiary outreach. With the information, the county will make a MAGI determination (send a RFTHI if potentially eligible) or determine what missing information needs verification (e.g., property supplement). When a family member is in LTC and ex parte determination is not possible, counties should send out the MC 210 Rv along with an MC 262.
For Mixed Medi-Cal household without LTC members, the county will do an ex parte review. MAGI members are sent through CalHEERS for eligibility, while non-MAGI members will go through SAWS. MAGI members are designated ineligible for the Non-MAGI MFBU, while non-MAGI members are designated as “non-applying” household members of the tax filing unit for MAGI determinations. Where there’s an LTC member in a mixed Medi-Cal household, the household receives a pre-populated MAGI redetermination form and an MC 604 IPS.
The letter also contains a list of “Mega-Mandatory” aid codes that take priority over MAGI codes for non-MAGI eligibility determinations. These groups follow the pre-ACA rules.
DHCS ACWDL 14-34: Safe at Home Confidential Post Office (P.O.) Box Process (9/25/14)
DHCS issued this letter to the counties about how to proceed with a Safe at Home confidential PO Box address. MEDS must only display the designated P.O. Box with a four digit Safe at Home identifier. While all the addresses are in Sacramento, counties must maintain the residence county and county of responsibility in the County where participants are living. The letter outlines the protections and steps to be taken to update information about a Safe at Home participant.