More American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 goodies. CDSS will not pay, and cannot claim reimbursement for the 65 percent COBRA subsidy under the federal law. For purposes of COBRA, the entity administering the health benefit, typically the county or an entity they delegate this to, such as the Public Authority (PA), will need to modify its current accounting procedures to include the COBRA claiming process. The ACL includes model notices to employees. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-15-09: Individualized Education Plan (2/26/09)
W&I Code § 16010 requires that each child placed in foster care has an education record that includes the names and addresses of the child’s education providers, the child’s grade level performance, the child’s school record, and assurances that the child’s placement in foster care takes into account the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of the placement.
This ACIN addresses how to report the percentage of children in foster care who have an Individual Family Services Plan or an IEP documented in the CWS/CMS Education Record. [Download]
ACL 09-20: CalWORKs: Grant Reduction; Suspension Of COLA To The Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) Levels; COLA Increase To The Minimum Basic Standard Of Adequate Care (MBSAC) Levels (4/8/09)
The state budget cut CalWORKs grants (both regions, exempt and non-exempt households). This ACL lists the new grant amounts, and reminds counties that this cut may result in higher Food stamps. The Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) COLA is suspended, but the Standard of Need (the MBSAC) goes up. All clients will get the attached stuff in a May mailing.
The cut also applies to Refugee Cash Assistance and the Trafficking/Crime Victims programs. [Download]
ACWDL 09-16: MOU between the CDCR AND DHCS regarding the pre-parole process for securing Medi-Cal entitlements (4/1/09)
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health Care Services struck up an agreement that facilitates the completion and submittal of Medi-Cal applications for inmates and wards of CDCR prior to their release. Attached to this letter is the memo of understanding between the two departments. The letter includes a summary of the mou. [Download]
ACWDL 09-15: Suspension of CEC reduction and Medi-Cal MSR requirements for children (3/27/09)
To receive the FMAP increase under ARRA states cannot have more restrictive policies then were in place on July 1, 2008. Since July 1, 2008 California had reduced the continuous eligibility for children (CEC) period from one year to six months as well as added a Mid-Year Status report requirement for some children. The 6 month CEC and the MSR requirement will be suspended until the Director of DHCS issues a declaration specifying that the increased FMAP is no longer available through the ARRA. Upon such a declaration, the CEC time period will be restored to six months and MSR requirements for children will be required. The letter includes instructions to reinstate any child who was discontinued because of the 6 month CEC or the MSR. [Download]
ACIN I-27-09: Final Regulations On State-Funded Benefits For Victims Of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence Or Other Serious Crimes (4/6/09)
The final regulations are out on eligibility for victims of domestic violence, trafficking and other serious crime victims. (These policies previously were done as emergency regs and through ACLs.) Of note: County eligibility workers are to use an individual’s self-declaration that he/she is a human trafficking victim unless the county documents in writing an independent and reasonable basis to find the applicant not credible; Continued presence can only be requested by federal law enforcement; Victims of human trafficking who are granted continued presence may assist local and state, not just federal, law enforcement officials; Victims who petitioned for U visa interim relief prior to the issuance of final federal regulations governing U visas, are eligible for state-funded benefits and services. [Download]