The incredibly LONG title of this ACL matches the incredibly LONG ACL. 54 pages of details about the Share of Cost (SOC) issues stemming from the IHSS plus waiver. There are some key tidbits buried in the extensive acronym- and form-laden text, so, sorry, but you should at least skim it. For example, the Medi-Cal SOC “buy out” (where a person pays only the IHSS SOC and not the higher Medi-Cal one) is calculated only once a month, and once that’s done it won’t be changed for the current or prior months. Also, the IHSS SOC will no longer automatically be deducted from the wages. Rather, the IHSS computer system will check first for Medi-Cal Point of Service deductions, and then determine the remaining spenddown amount to deduct from the provider wages. This change in turn, has generated the need for two new notices: one to the recipient to explain how much is owed the provider, and one to the provider saying how much is owed for the work. Good luck! [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-05-06 – Q & A re: “Dual Status Children” (May 12, 2006)
Assembly Bill 129 allowed children to be both dependents and delinquents in foster care. Counties must implement a protocol on how/when to make a recommendation for concurrent (DSS and Probation) jurisdiction. This ACIN has Q & A’s, including programmatic issues, such as how the foster care time frames are affected when the child moves between foster care and juvenile detention (they stay the same), same visit requirements, and more. [Download]
ACIN I-05-06 – Q & A re: “Dual Status Children” (May 12, 2006)
Assembly Bill 129 allowed children to be both dependents and delinquents in foster care. Counties must implement a protocol on how/when to make a recommendation for concurrent (DSS and Probation) jurisdiction. This ACIN has Q & A’s, including programmatic issues, such as how the foster care time frames are affected when the child moves between foster care and juvenile detention (they stay the same), same visit requirements, and more. [Download]
ACIN I-33-06 – Access to Case Records and Use of Manual Workarounds (May 8, 2006)
Though intended to make everyone’s life easier, automation has posed many problems for counties, clients and advocates. This letter reminds counties that, regardless of what the automation system will allow, recipients and advocates must be permitted to review the entire case file, even if that means a “manual workaround.” If counties have folks review the entire file electronically, they must help show how to navigate the system. The alternative is printing out the entire file. And if the computer won’t let the worker comply with the law … manual workaround. This includes issuance of benefits and payment of Aid Paid Pending. [Download]
ACIN I-21-06 – Protective Supervision Form (April 4, 2006)
Back of the new “Quality Assurance Initiative,” the state was required to develop a standard form to get the appropriate certification for a person’s need for Protective Supervision. Here it is! Counties are to use the form at the initial assessment when the county worker identifies the potential need for Protective Supervision. If the doc fails to return the form, the county “shall make its determination of need based on the available evidence.” [Download]
ACIN I-28-06 – IHSS Q & A Regarding Eligibility and Assessment (April 11, 2006)
Fun stuff about the changes thanks to the “Plus Waiver” program (called “IHSS-IPW”). Things like “in how many waivers may a person participate” (one 1115, several 1915’s, but never more than one 1115), who stays in residual IHSS, and whether they get state Medi-Cal, issues regarding parental/spousal care providers. Of note: parents can work, but not full-time, to get paid through IHH-IPW, and protective supervision and respite care hours are permissible. [Download]