Adult Medicaid Change Notices

DMA CHANGE NOTICE FOR MANUAL NO., 05-02, Child Support

DATE: JULY 20, 2001

Manual: Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid

Change No. 05-02

To: County Directors of Social Services

Effective: August 1, 2001

I. background

Through the outreach efforts of states and other organizations, questions regarding paternity and medical support on Medicaid and NCHC applications have been identified as barriers to enrolling otherwise eligible children in these programs. As a result of these findings, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), issued a letter to State Medicaid Directors on December 19, 2000. The letter clarified the requirements of cooperating with Child Support in child only cases.

While the Child Support Enforcement agency can help provide families with financial support and health care, involvement with Child Support should not deter families from seeking medical assistance. Cooperating with Child Support should not become a barrier to enrolling eligible children in either Medicaid or NC Health Choice.

II. content of the change

A. As a result of the CMS letter and through collaboration with the State Child Support Enforcement Section, MA-1000, MA-1100, MA-2375 and MA-2400 of the MAABD manual are revised to add that:

1. Caretakers of children receiving Medicaid are required to cooperate with Child Support only if the caretaker is applying for or receiving Medicaid for herself (except for MPW), and

2. Child only cases (the caretaker is not receiving and has not applied for Medicaid for herself) are referred to Child Support only if the caretaker agrees to cooperate.

3. Independently living children are no longer required to cooperate with Child Support. Do not refer Medicaid cases for independently living children.

B. Other Changes to Reflect Current Policy

1. MA-2375 is revised to remove the reference to the function through ACTS that would provide a report of child support paid. This function was never made available after implementation of ACTS.

MA-2375 is also updated to add that cooperation of the recipient caretaker with Child Support is required during the first 12 months of Extended Medicaid (Earned Income Disregard) but is not required during the second 12 months of Extended Medicaid (Transitional). This is not a change in policy.

This section has also been reorganized.

2. MA-2400 is updated to reflect changes in the CHAMPUS program.

C. EIS Changes

The Child Support Referral Question Screen for Applications and Cases will be updated. Please refer to EIS Change Number 02-02 for information regarding these changes. These changes will not be implemented in EIS until August 6. Between August 1 and August 3 caseworkers must use the PF2 key to bypass the referral process for child only cases when the caretaker is not receiving or applying for assistance for herself and has not voluntarily agreed to cooperate with Child Support.

D. Child Only Cases AlreadyActive in ACTS

Child only cases referred to Child Support Enforcement via ACTS prior to August 1, 2001 will be identified. Local Child Support offices received instructions to close these cases unless there is an existing order or an indication that the caretaker requested assistance.

III. Effective date

August 1, 2001

IV. maintenance of manual