This manual letter lists new and revised material for the Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM). Unless otherwise noted, new and revised instructions are effective May 1, 2009.
These bulletins were incorporated into the following sections:
l Section 19.25.30 - Annuities.
l Section 19.25.30.05 - Annuity Disclosures (New).
l Section 19.25.30.10 - Naming DHS a Preferred Remainder Beneficiary (New).
l Section 19.25.30.15 - Evaluation of Annuities under Transfer Policy (New).
Chapter 04 - Social Security Administration.
Updates to many sections based on a regularly scheduled review.
Updates to annuities sections based on a regularly scheduled review.
Updates to many sections based on a regularly scheduled review.
Chapter 03 - Eligibility Groups and Bases of Eligibility.
Chapter 29 - Quality Assurance.
Chapter 04 - Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefits
l Section 04 - Social Security Administration Benefits.
Clarifies that the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) may determine eligibility and administer Medicare for current or former railway workers only.
l Section 04.05 - Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
Explains the role of Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) in railroad retirement benefits and Medicare.
l Section 04.10 - Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI).
Minor wording changes to clarify policy.
l Section 04.30 - Verification of RSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Clarifies that SVES is the preferred way to check for any deductions from the gross SSA benefit.
l Section 04.35 - Referrals for Social Security Benefits.
n Clarifies and adds information about when to refer clients to SSA for RSDI and SSI.
n Corrects that people born between 1943 and 1954 should be referred at age 66.
n Notes that dependents receive benefits under another person’s Social Security number (SSN) only if that person has at least 40 work credits.
n Clarifies that the county determines whether the client has good cause for not complying with a referral for Social Security.
l Section 19.25.30 - Annuities.
n Entire section is reorganized and updated.
n Incorporates information from Bulletins #08-21-04, ”Changes in the Treatment of Annuities for Medical Assistance (MA) Payment of Long-term Care (LTC) Services Eligibility and Benefit Recovery Announced” and #08-21-04C, ”Correction to Bulletin #08-21-04, Changes in Treatment of Annuities for MA Payment of LTC Services Eligibility and Benefit Recovery Announced”.
l Section 19.25.30.05 - Annuity Disclosures (New).
n This page was formerly Annuity Transfers with the sole purpose to direct readers to the Annuities bulletins.
n Incorporates information from bulletins #08-21-04 and #08-21-04C.
n Provides requirements regarding disclosure of annuities for people requesting MA payment of LTC services.
n Lists acceptable documents to verify annuity information.
l Section 19.25.30.10 - Naming DHS a Preferred Remainder Beneficiary (New).
n New section clarifies when DHS must be named as preferred remainder beneficiary and the requirements for doing so.
n Incorporates information from bulletins #08-21-04 and #08-21-04C.
l Section 19.25.30.15 - Evaluation of Annuities under Transfer Policy (New).
n New section clarifies the methods for evaluating annuities of people requesting MA payment of LTC services.
n Incorporates information from bulletins #08-21-04 and #08-21-04C.
l Section 19.25.30.20 - Annuity Life Expectancy Table.
n Clarifies when to use the Social Security Administration (SSA) Period Life Table.
n Section is renumbered; was previously 19.25.30.10.
l Section 27 - Appeals.
n Aligns terminology to that used by the DHS State Appeals Office.
n Clarifies that clients written request for an appeal may, but need not express disagreement with a decision.
n Provides the correct address for the DHS Appeals Office.
n Clarifies that counties, tribal agencies, and MinnesotaCare Operations are to send all appeal requests to the DHS State Appeals Office.
l Section 27.05.05 - Managed Care Appeals.
Clarifies the role of county managed care advocates and reasons for appeals.
l Section 27.10 - Continued Benefits.
Clarifies that information about continued benefits while an appeal is pending is on the Appeal to State Agency (DHS-0033).
l Section 27.15 - Appeals Decisions.
Aligns terminology to that used by the DHS State Appeals Office.
l Section 27.20 - Appeals Hearings Reimbursement.
Clarifies to follow agency access services plan when reimbursing hearing expenses and to require documentation.
Chapter 03 - Eligibility Groups and Bases of Eligibility
n Section 03.30.20.05 - MA-EPD Employment Definition.
m Clarifies that enrollees must receive payment from royalties, honoraria and stipends monthly to remain eligible for MA-EPD when that is their only source of income.
m Expands and clarifies information regarding a four-month medical leave or job loss.
n Section 19.25.15.15 - Life Estates.
Adds a new subsection with information on when a remainder interest is available to the life estate owner.
n Section 25.10.15 - MA-EPD Payment Options.
Clarifies that premiums are applied to the oldest unpaid premiums before the current month’s premium.
Chapter 26 - Notices
n Clarifies that ten-day closing notice is not necessary when a fee-for-service MA or EMA enrollee enters an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD).
n Clarifies when to send a closing notice to MA or EMA enrollees entering an IMD.
n Adds language explaining when to send the Income Change Evaluation (DHS-3388).
Chapter 29 - Quality Assurance
n Section 29.15 - Overpayments.
m Removes language that requires a determination of eligibility for other Minnesota Health Care Programs before assessing an overpayment.
m Clarifies to determine eligibility under other bases in the current program before assessing an overpayment.
The following terms have been added (if indicated), revised or deleted (if indicated) in the glossary:
n Section A-F.
m Accumulation Phase (new).
m Actuarially Sound (new).
m Annuitant.
m Annuitization Phase (new).
m Annuity.
m Annuity Issuer (new).
m Annuity Owner (new).
m Balloon Payment (new).
m Beneficiary.
m Commercial Annuity (new).
m Deferred Annuity (new).
m Deemed IRA (new).
m Fixed Annuity (new).
n Section G-L.
m Immediate Annuity (new).
m Individual Retirement Account (new).
m Individual Retirement Annuity (new).
m Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) (new).
m Life Annuity (new).
m Lookback Period (new).
n Section M-R.
m Payee (new).
m Payout Phase (new).
m Periodic Payments.
m Preferred Remainder Beneficiary.
m Private Annuity (new).
m Roth IRA (new).
n Section S-Z.
m Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA (new).
m Term Certain Annuity (new).
m Variable Annuity (new).