The Notice provides an updated (since 2001) “tool” for spotting potential child care fraud indicators. The tool is not mandatory, and the Notice reminds counties that the indicators are not proof of fraud, but rather just suggest that “further attention” may be warranted. Attached are a “Desk Guide” (missing key explanatory information) and an “Instructional Guide” (with more useful information). [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-56-08: Adult Protective Services County Contact Information (8/4/08)
The updated list of County APS contacts. [Download]
ACL 08-37: 2008 Farm Bill: Mandatory Changes Effective October 1, 2008 (8/1/08)
Figuring out Food Stamps will now be a snap, with the renaming of the program….“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program†or SNAP is the new national food program. Contingent on a state budget, the following changes impacting recipients will be effective 10/1/08: 1) the standard deduction will be raised to $144 and indexed it to inflation starting in FFY 2010; 2) removes the cap on dependent care expenses; 3) adjusts the asset limit to inflation (don’t get your hopes up, the trigger is not expected to be reached until 10/2012!); 4) excludes all tax-preferred education accounts and retirement accounts (e.g., IRAs), from countable resources; 5) increases the minimum benefits amount, indexed to inflation, from the current $10; 6) increases the time to preserve benefits in inactive EBT accounts.
Other changes are pending federal implementing regulations. [Download]
ACWDL 08-30: Implementation of aid code 06 for the Out-of-State Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance and aid code 46 for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (7/14/2008)
The federal government contributes to states’ costs of providing subsidies and Medicaid for adopted children or children in foster care who meet certain eligibility criteria. The Compacts provide for uniformity and consistency of policy and procedures when a child with special needs is adopted or fostered by a family in another state or the adoptive or foster family moves to another state. When a child enters California through ICAMA or ICPC, the sending state pays the cash subsidy, but the children receive Medi-Cal through California. In May 2001, California became a member of the ICAMA, but counties have been using existing aid codes for these children which does not allow for tracking of these cases. DHCS is implementing the two new aid codes for appropriate tracking of out-of-state Medi-Cal for these children. [Download]
ACWDL o8-32: Notice of Action requirements (7/30/2008)
A NOA workgroup has been meeting since 2007 to resolve NOA issues. This ACWDL implements two interim measures recommended by the NOA workgroup. Another ACWDL is predicted to follow in Fall 2008 with the long-term improvement of a simplified NOA format. The two interim measures in this ACWDL are 1) to eliminate multiple or conflicting NOAs and 2) to ensure that individuals have access to bilingual/interpretive services. The letter lays out steps for the counties to take to realize the two interim measures. [Download]
ACWDL 08-33: The extension of the Qualifying Individual 1 program sunset date to December 31, 2009 (7/31/08)
The QI1 program is a Medicare savings program that pays the Medicare Part B premium for people under 135% of the FPL. The programs sunset date has been extended until December 31, 2009. Counties will continue to accept applications until DHCS notifies them that the program has been discontinued. [Download]