*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016. Please refer to the EPM for current health care program policy information. ***
Effective: December 1, 2006 |
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16.15.15 - Approved Good Cause Exemptions |
Archived: June 1, 2016 |
Once a claim of good cause has been approved, it must be reviewed annually. Good cause may also be reviewed when the factors that led to the good cause determination change. In addition, the client has the option of choosing to withdraw the good cause claim at any time.
Redetermination of Good Cause.
Permanent Good Cause Exemption.
Change of County or Enrollment Site.
Previous Finding of Good Cause.
Withdrawing Good Cause Claims.
The good cause committee must review approvals of good cause exemptions annually to determine whether the reasons for the good cause exemptions still exist. The good cause committee that made the original decision may review the decision earlier when the factors that led to the good cause claim have changed.
The good cause redetermination date may differ from the annual eligibility renewal date. The good cause redetermination date is one year from the date good cause was last approved.
For the annual redetermination of good cause:
l The committee will send the Notice of Child Support Good Cause Redetermination (DHS-3630) to the client. The committee should send the notice at least 30 days before the one-year redetermination date.
l The good cause committee must notify the client of the result of the redetermination.
n If the exemption is approved for another year, the Notice of Approval of Redetermination of Your Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3633) is sent.
n If the committee decides to no longer grant the exemption, it must send the Notice of Denial of Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3628).
Permanent Good Cause Exemption
In some situations, granting a permanent good cause exemption is appropriate. This should be limited to situations that usually will not change and for which additional evidence isn't necessary or possible (for example, the exemption was initially granted because the child was conceived as a result of rape or incest).
The good cause committee still needs to schedule the case for annual review, but should not send the Notice of Child Support Good Cause Redetermination (DHS-3630). Instead, the committee should send the Notice of Approval of Redetermination of Your Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3633). This notice reminds the custodial parent that good cause is approved for the year, and also gives information on how to end the good cause exemption if the custodial parent now wants child support enforcement services.
Change of County or Enrollment Site
If a household with an approved good cause claim moves to another county or a MinnesotaCare (MCRE) household changes enrollment sites, the review date for the good cause exemption remains one year from the date it was approved by the good cause committee at the original agency.
Example:
Norma applies for MCRE in County A. The county good cause committee approves her good cause claim for one year effective September 1. In December, Norma moves to County B.
Action:
County B does not provide case maintenance for MCRE cases, so County A transfers the case to MCRE Operations. The DHS good cause committee must review Norma's claim at the September date established by the committee in County A.
This will take some coordination between agencies. Good cause committees may choose to share their findings with each other to assist in the review process.
Note: If the custodial parent requests it, the committees must share the evidence.
Previous Finding of Good Cause
A finding of good cause by the county good cause committee or the DHS MCRE committee does not require the other committee to make the same finding. However, IV-D may not take any enforcement action on the case while the original good cause exemption is in effect and the program under which it was granted remains open.
Example:
Margaret applies for Child Care Assistance in June. The county good cause committee approves her claim for one year beginning June 1. Margaret applies for MCRE at DHS two months later and claims good cause for not cooperating with medical support requirements.
Action:
The DHS MCRE committee denies her claim. However, as long as Child Care Assistance remains open due to approval of a good cause claim, the IV-D agency cannot take any action to enforce medical support for MCRE.
n If the county good cause committee approves the claim again at the one-year review, IV-D continues to be prohibited from taking action on any part of the case.
n If the county good cause committee denies a subsequent claim or Child Care Assistance terminates, IV-D will pursue medical support.
A client may withdraw a claim for good cause at any time during the exemption period. Clients should request withdrawals in writing by using the Request to End Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3631).
l The health care program worker must forward a copy of the DHS-3631 to the IV-D agency with the case.
l The IV-D worker must then take the appropriate action to initiate or enforce the appropriate medical support obligation.
For more information, see:
Good Cause for Non-Cooperation.
Initial Good Cause Determinations.
When to Refer for Medical Support.