Gee, that 107 page Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) ACL was so darn thorough! Unfortunately, it was also based on some waiver requests to the USDA. This letter goes over which were accepted, which were denied (and the impact) and which, one year later, are still pending. An important denial is to disregard any mid-period voluntary reports that would decrease benefits. The FNS is requiring California to act on ANY change reported mid-period if it is “verified upon receipt” (VUR) unless the report is for another program (like CalWORKs) and that program doesn’t trigger an action in response to the report. CDSS will issue more instructions on VUR later. FNS also denied averaging income over the 6 month period, and allows only using reaonably anticipated income and changes from voluntary reports. Requiring reporting mid-period changes in address is still pending. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACWDL 13-11: Limits and Disregards for the Blind Federal Poverty Level Program for 2013 – Beginning Apirl 1, 2013
Sets the income limit for a the Blind Federal Poverty Level program at $1188 for a single individual. For couples, the limit is $1751 if both individuals are blind and $166 if one individual is blind and the other is aged or disabled. The letter is linked here.
ACWDL 13-10: New Limits and Disregards for the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Program for 2013 – Beginning April 1, 2013
Effective April 1, 2013, sets new income limits for the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Program at $1188 for an individual and $1603 for a couple. Click here to access the letter.
ACWDL 13-09: 2013 Federal Poverty Levels
Establishes new limits for all of the Medi-Cal programs for which eligibility is based on a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), including 1931(b). The letter directs that for individuals enrolled in the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) who do not receive Title II income, counties must apply the new FPL figures retroactively to January 24, 2013. The letter and related charts are available here.
ACWDL 13-05: Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women (PE) Program
Provides current information about the PE program as well as links to current forms. The letter, available here, provides information about PE covered services, application process and coverage period.
ACWDL 13-03: Screening of (1) Child Applicants in the Age Group 6-18 for Potential No Cost Medi-Cal Eligibility Under Section 1931(b) and (2) Deemed Eligible Medi-Cal Infants Under the Age of One
This letter is the result of the lawsuit filed by Maternal Health and Child Access (MCHA) against DHCS and MRMIB for failing to refer Healthy Families applicants who applied through the Single Point of Entry (SPE) to Medi-Cal for 1931(b) screening and for failing to implement deemed infant screening procedures. Because Healthy Families is no longer enrolling new applicants as of January 1, 2013, all applications are being forwarded to Medi-Cal anyway. However, MRMIB is conducting outreach to current HFP families who may have been impacted and advising them that they may complete a Premium Reevaluation form to be screened for 1931(b) eligibility. To see the letter and all related notices, click here.