Earlier this summer, the Department of Human Services issued a bulletin announcing a new policy that impacts some individuals applying for and accessing Medical Assistance – also known as MA. The bulletin can be found at http://bit.ly/2lVf2LZ.
This policy applies to people who are age 21 or older and whose MA basis of eligibility is age 65 or older, blind or disability (MA-ABD), including people who are eligible for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSP).
The Account Validation Service (AVS) is a new tool that DHS will use to obtain information about financial accounts. Individuals will still need to provide current asset verifications. Individuals applying for or accessing MA will need to sign and return a new authorization form for the AVS as a condition of MA eligibility.
This policy does not apply to children under age 21.
Applicants:
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People applying for MA-ABD, including people who request services covered through the Elderly Waiver (EW), MA-EPD or MSP eligibility on or after 9/1/2019, will be required to sign an authorization form as a condition of MA eligibility. The county or tribal worker will request this form from the applicant.
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The person’s spouse must also sign the authorization form, unless the applicant is requesting MA-EPD or services covered through the Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access Disability Inclusion (CADI), or Developmental Disability (DD) waiver program.
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If the person has a sponsor, the person’s sponsor must also sign the authorization form. (A sponsor is someone who signed an Affidavit of Support (USCIS I-864) as a condition of the person’s, or his or her spouse’s, entry to the country.)
Current Enrollees:
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Current enrollees will receive a request to sign and return the authorization form in the mail over the next few months. Mailings started the end of August 2019 and will continue through April 2020.
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The authorization form must be returned to the county or tribal agency by the due date listed on the cover letter received with the form.
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If the authorization form is not returned, the county or tribal agency will send a 10-day advance notice closing MA eligibility. If the form is returned before the effective MA closing date, coverage will be reopened if the person is otherwise eligible for MA.
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If the authorization form is returned, the county or tribal agency will use the AVS to access the person’s financial account information at the time of the next renewal – in addition to current asset verifications.
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If the enrollee is having difficulty returning the authorization form by the due date, they should contact their county or tribal agency immediately. MA will not be closed as long as the enrollee is attempting to cooperate.
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With questions or for more information, contact your county or tribal agency, the Disability Hub (1-866-333-2466), or advocates with The Arc Minnesota (1-833-450-1494).