Work First 104B - Substance Abuse/Mental Health initiative

IV. NON-COMPLIANCE FOR APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

An individual who does not comply with their treatment plan is ineligible for cash assistance but remains in the Work First Family Assistance case. This means that the individual continues to receive Medicaid, the time clock continues, and is still required to participate in the employment program. The Work First payment must be made to a protective payee.

If an appropriate drug or alcohol treatment program is not available, the individual is not considered to have failed to comply with a treatment plan. The QPSA will determine if appropriate treatment is available.

Take the following steps when an adult fails or refuses to comply with treatment recommendations and/or plan:

• Give the family timely notice.
• Reduce the family’s need standard by one for each individual who fails to comply with the treatment recommendations and /or plan. Key a budget for the ongoing month based on the reduced need standard, and change the payment accordingly. When imposing a Substance Abuse penalty pay type will remain “2”.
• Designate a protective payee. See Section 205 of the Work First Manual.
• Make the payment to the protective payee until the worker is are notified by the QPSA that the adult complied with the treatment recommendations and/or plan.
• Once the adult complies with the individual treatment plan, add their needs back into the need standard of the family effective the month following the month the individual complied with his treatment plan.