Effective: December 1, 2006 |
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03.25.25ar1 - Medical Assistance (MA) for Children Receiving Adoption Assistance (Archive) |
Archived: May 1, 2007 |
Children receive adoption assistance in one of two ways:
l IV-E Adoption Assistance: Title IV-E makes adoption assistance payments on behalf of children who are eligible for adoption assistance and meet the requirements of the IV-E program. These children are automatically eligible for Medical Assistance (MA).
l State Adoption Assistance: Minnesota’s adoption assistance program makes adoption assistance payments on behalf of children who are eligible for adoption assistance and do not meet the requirements of the IV-E program. Children with a signed and approved state adoption assistance agreement are eligible for MA up to age 21 if they meet all of the following conditions:
n They have a special need for medical or rehabilitative care.
n They were eligible for MA at the time the adoption assistance agreement was signed. In most cases, the child will be enrolled in MA at the time the agreement is signed. However, if the placing agency did not request MA for the child before the agreement, the child still qualifies for MA if the child would have been MA-eligible when the agreement was signed.
Note: Do not consider the income of the adoptive parents when determining if the child would have been MA-eligible.
Eligibility factors are listed below with any information that is unique for this group. Links to standard program guidelines are included as well.
Citizenship/Immigration Status.
Insurance and Benefit Recovery.
Relationship to Other Groups/Bases.
Other Groups/Bases to Consider.
Application Process (standard guidelines)
Children with a signed and approved IV-E or state adoption assistance agreement are automatically eligible for MA without a separate application or eligibility determination.
Note: Children with a state adoption assistance agreement must also meet the criteria noted above.
Eligibility under this basis begins the month the adoption assistance agreement is signed. Adoption assistance children may already have eligibility as foster care children at the time the agreement is signed.
Note: See POLI/TEMP TE02.05.28 (Adoption Assistance Cases) for information on how to set up these cases on MAXIS.
Children who are eligible for IV-E or state adoption assistance are exempt from completing six-month and annual renewal forms. However, the worker must verify annually that the adoption assistance agreement remains in effect. See verifications above.
Verify eligibility for IV-E and state adoption assistance. DHS supplies the required documentation annually to the county of residence.
Social Security Number (standard guidelines)
Follow MA guidelines for Children Under 21.
Follow MA guidelines for Children Under 21.
Residency (standard guidelines)
l Title IV-E Adoption Assistance: Children receiving Title IV-E adoption assistance are residents of the state in which they currently reside, even if placed by another state.
n Children who move from Minnesota to another state become the financial responsibility of that state.
n Children who move to Minnesota from another state become Minnesota's financial responsibility.
l State Adoption Assistance: Under federal law, states have the option of accepting financial responsibility for state adoption assistance children from other states. Minnesota selected this option.
n Children who move to Minnesota from another state become the financial responsibility of Minnesota.
n Children who move from Minnesota to another state become the responsibility of the new state if that state has chosen the federal option. If the new state does not accept financial responsibility, the child remains Minnesota’s responsibility. See State Residence - Adoption Assistance.
Insurance and Benefit Recovery (standard guidelines)
Require children to enroll in the adoptive parents’ health insurance plan if it is cost-effective.
Note: Policies for MA-eligible IV-E or state adoption assistance children are always considered cost-effective if the premium is $50 or less per month. Further review by the Benefit Recovery Section (BRS) is not required.
DHS pays Medicare Part B premiums through the buy-in for MA-eligible IV-E adoption assistance children.
Do not consider the income of the child, adoptive parents, and/or biological parents for either IV-E or state adoption assistance.
Not applicable - there is no income or asset test, so no evaluation method is needed.
Asset Guidelines (standard guidelines)
There is no asset test for children under 21.
There is no income test.
There is no income test.
There is no income test.
Covered Services (standard guidelines)
Follow MA guidelines for Children Under 21.
Children receiving IV-E or state adoption assistance are excluded from managed care enrollment.
Note: Adoption assistance children may enroll voluntarily.
If Minnesota retains financial responsibility for a child living in another state, the child’s medical providers must enroll as providers in Minnesota to receive Minnesota MA payment. Providers may call the Provider Help Desk at DHS (651-431-2700 or 1-800-366-5411) for information on provider enrollment.
Not applicable.
Follow standard MA guidelines.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.