*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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. ***
This manual letter lists new and revised material for the Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM). Unless otherwise noted, new and revised instructions are effective December 1, 2014.
This manual letter provides annual updates effective as of January 1, 2015.
Manual Letter #71 also includes the publication of the 2015 Amounts in Excess of the Benchmark to Apply as Medical Expense document. The document is accessible from the HCPM home page.
Chapter 4 - Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefits
Provides annual updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment amounts, reductions in Medical Part B premiums by Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D benchmark plans.
Updates a question in the Home Equity Limit Analysis.
Chapter 21 - Income Calculation (Community)
Provides annual updates to the pickle disregard cost of living adjustment (COLA) chart and the blind or disabled student disregard limit.
Chapter 22 - Standards and Guidelines
Provides annual updates to the Special Income Standard (SIS) gross monthly income limit, minimum and maximum asset allowances, long-term care allowances, remedial care expense amount, Medicare cost sharing amounts and home equity limit.
Chapter 4 - Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefits
Section 04.15 - Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Adds the maximum SSI payment amounts effective January 1, 2015.
Section 04.40.10 - Medicare Part B
Updates the list of Medicare Advantage plans that subsidize Medicare Part B premiums and the reductions in premiums, if any, provided by those plans beginning January 1, 2015.
Section 04.40.20.05 - Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans
Updates information about which Medicare Part D plans will be stand alone benchmark plans in 2015. The revision also clarifies which 2014 stand alone benchmark plans will no longer be stand alone benchmark plans in 2015.
Section 04.45.05 - Medicare Part D and Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP)
Adds a link to the new 2015 Amounts in Excess of the Benchmark to Apply as Medical Expense document.
Section 19.55.05 - Home Equity Limit Analysis
Updates question #6 of the Home Equity Limit Analysis to reflect the new Home Equity Limit effective January 1, 2014.
Chapter 21 - Income Calculation (Community)
Section 21.50.15.05 - Pickle Disregard COLA Chart
Updates the pickle disregard COLA chart with the new Retired, Survivors, and Disabled Insurance (RSDI) COLA of 1.7% effective as of January 1, 2015.
Section 21.50.40 - Blind or Disabled Student Child Disregard
Updates the blind or disabled student child disregard limit effective January 1, 2015.
Chapter 22 - Standards and Guidelines
Section 22.10 - Special Income Standard (SIS)
Adds the Special Income Standard gross monthly income limit effective January 1, 2015.
Section 22.40 - Minimum/Maximum Asset Allowance
Adds the minimum and maximum asset allowance effective January 1, 2015.
Section 22.45 - Long-Term Care (LTC) Allowances
Adds the clothing and personal needs allowance and the maximum monthly income allowance effective January 1, 2015.
Section 22.50 - Remedial Care Expense
Adds the remedial care expense amount effective January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2015.
Section 22.55 - Medicare Cost Sharing Amounts
Adds Medicare cost sharing amounts effective January 1, 2015.
Section 22.65 - Home Equity Limit
Adds the home equity limit effective January 1, 2015.