This manual letter lists new and revised material for the Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM). Unless otherwise noted, new and revised instructions are effective July 1, 2009.
A number of bulletins have been incorporated into sections as listed throughout this manual letter.
Many sections are modified based on a regularly scheduled review.
Many sections are modified based on a regularly scheduled review.
Chapter 02 - Minnesota Health Care Programs.
Chapter 03 - Eligibility Groups and Bases of Eligibility.
Chapter 17 - Household Composition.
Chapter 18 - Deeming Income and Assets.
Chapter 22 - Standards and Guidelines.
Chapter 30 - Other Related Programs.
l Bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
l Bulletin #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program."
l Bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
l Bulletin #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
l Bulletin #09-21-02, "DHS Exempts Military Members Who Completed Tour of Active Duty and Their Families from Payment of MinnesotaCare Premiums."
l Section 07.05 - How to Apply.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
n Reminds workers to tell clients who call that they may send in a written request to set the date of application of MA or GAMC before submitting the application.
l Section 07.05.05 - Applications for Health Care Programs.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
n Clarifies the Combined Application Form (CAF) can be used to apply for Minnesota Health Care Programs.
n Adds information about the Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP) Application.
n Clarifies that DHS-3182 is the only form that should be provided with the HCAPP.
l Section 07.05.10 - Application Required.
n Incorporates bulletins #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals" and #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
n Clarifies policy for adding a member to a MinnesotaCare household when the only member is an auto newborn.
n Clarifies policies that apply to applications for all Minnesota Health Care Programs.
l Section 07.05.15 - Application Not Required.
n Incorporates bulletins #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals" and #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
n Clarifies provisions that apply to all Minnesota Health Care Programs.
l Section 07.05.20 - Applications after Nonpayment of MinnesotaCare Premium (New).
Incorporates bulletin #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
l Section 07.10 - Where to Apply.
Incorporates bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
l Section 07.15 - Who May Apply.
Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
l Section 07.15.05 - Application Signature.
n Clarifies that a signature is required from applicants who are age 18 or older at the time the application is processed.
n Clarifies MinnesotaCare procedure for pending an application when a signature is needed.
l Section 07.15.10 - Authorized Representative.
n Clarifies that certain employees may not be authorized representatives for clients.
n Clarifies that MAXIS sends notices to the authorized representative and the client.
l Section 07.15.15 - Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) and Incarcerated Individuals.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
n Changes the name of the section from Applications for Inmates.
l Section 07.20 - Processing Applications.
Incorporates bulletins #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program" and #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
l Section 07.20.05 - Date of Application.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, "DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals."
n Other minor clarifications.
l Section 07.20.15 - Processing Periods.
Adds subsections to clarify policy for MinnesotaCare, MA and GAMC processing.
l Section 07.20.20 - Updating an Application or Renewal
n Adds information to include updating a renewal in this section.
n Other minor clarifications.
l Section 07.20.25 - Eligibility Begin Date.
n Clarifies eligibility begin dates for MinnesotaCare.
n Other minor clarifications.
l Section 07.20.35 - MinnesotaCare with Retroactive MA.
Incorporates bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
l Section 07.20.40 - Shared or Transferred Applications.
n Incorporates bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)" and bulletin #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
n Other clarifications for transferring applications between agencies.
l Section 07.20.45 - How to Transfer and Receive an Application.
n Clarifies MAXIS instructions.
n Adds requirement to include citizenship and immigration documentation when transferring an application.
n Clarifies to use the MHCP Application Transfer Letter (DHS-3358) to advise clients when their case is transferred.
l Section 07.20.55 - Informed Choice (New).
Incorporates bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
l Section 07.25 - Withdrawing an Application.
Clarifies process when clients change their decision to withdraw their application.
l Section 07.30 - Case Notes.
n Updates what to include in case notes, including citizenship documentation information, temporary absences, and self-employment income calculations.
n Other minor clarifications.
l Section 08.05 - Annual Renewal Exemptions.
n Clarifies that Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) enrollees, like Transition Year Medical Assistance (TYMA) enrollees, are exempt from renewals.
n Clarifies that this section is about annual renewals; monthly and six-month renewal information is addressed on separate pages.
l Section 08.10 - Renewal Forms.
n Clarifies which forms can be used as renewals.
n Clarifies which renewals may be processed as an application.
l Section 08.20.05 - Processing MinnesotaCare Renewals.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program."
n Clarifies policy regarding late renewals and informed choice.
l Section 08.25 - MA and GAMC Renewals
Minor clarifications.
l Section 08.25.05 - Processing MA and GAMC Annual Renewals.
n Incorporates bulletin #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program."
n Clarifies policy regarding late renewals.
n Clarifies that this policy refers to annual renewals, including adding the word ”annual” to the title.
l Section 08.35 - Six-Month Renewals.
n Clarifies the use of the six-month renewal form.
n Adds RMA enrollees as exempt from six-month renewals.
n Other minor clarifications.
Chapter 02 - Minnesota Health Care Programs
n Section 02.05 - Hierarchy of Health Care Programs.
m Incorporates bulletin #08-21-10, "Introduction of ”Informed Choice” and Other Changes to Health Care Programs Application (HCAPP)."
m Changes the name of this section from Hierarchy of Major Programs to Hierarchy of Health Care Programs.
Chapter 03 - Eligibility Groups and Bases of Eligibility
n Section 03.05.10 - MinnesotaCare Program Eligibility Type (MPET).
m Changes the minimum income for program FF from 200% to 215% FPG.
m Changes the minimum income for program JJ from 175% to 215% FPG.
m Deletes eligibility group A4.
m Deletes eligibility group M4.
m Deletes major program XX.
m Changes the minimum income for eligibility group M1 to 250% FPG.
n Section 03.35.15 - Qualified Individuals (QI).
m Adds information on determining eligibility for QI for clients who are ineligible for MA due to excess income or are unable to meet a spenddown.
m Adds clarifying examples.
n Section 03.45.05 - Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA).
m Clarifies not to apply sponsor deeming provisions for EMA.
m Clarifies that people may be eligible for EMA even if their sponsor does not respond to the Sponsor Letter.
n Section 05.10 - Data Privacy.
Incorporates bulletin #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program."
n Section 16.15.10 - Evidence of Good Cause.
Clarifies that a good cause committee will approve a client’s good cause request if they are a current Safe at Home participant and have a Safe at Home Identification Card.
Chapter 17 - Household Composition
n Section 17.20 - Adding a Household Member.
m Provides information on adding coverage for a current MinnesotaCare household member who did not previously have coverage.
m Incorporates bulletin #07-21-11, DHS Announces New Medical Assistance (MA) Policy for Processing Requests to Reopen MA for Incarcerated Individuals.
Chapter 18 - Deeming Income and Assets
n Section 18.05 - Sponsor Deeming.
m Adds subsection to clarify not to apply sponsor deeming provision for EMA.
m Adds subsection to clarify there is no income limit for MA-BC or CVT so therefore, sponsor deeming does not apply when determining eligibility under these eligibility bases.
n Section 19.20.05 - MA Asset Verification Denial/Closure.
Clarifies that eligibility for MinnesotaCare may be (not must be) determined if the denial or closure was due to more than just failure to verify assets.
n Section 20.10 - Verification of Income.
Clarifies to use wage income verification if a self-employed client pays wages to another household member.
n Section 20.25.20.05 - MinnesotaCare Self-Employment.
Clarifies to subtract wages and duplicative unearned income unrelated to the self-employment income for both self-employment and farm self-employment income.
Chapter 22 - Standards and Guidelines
Updates include the new 215 percent and 250 percent that were announced in bulletin #09-21-07, "Legislative Changes to MinnesotaCare for Certain Adults Effective July 1, 2009."
n Section 22.05.10 - 100 Percent of FPG.
Removes MinnesotaCare major program FF, eligibility type M2 from list with income maximum of 100% FPG.
n Section 22.05.30 - 175 Percent of FPG.
m MinnesotaCare Major Program Eligibility Type (MPET) FFM4 was eliminated April 1, 2009 and converted to FFM2 - less than or equal to 215% FPG .
m Deleted MinnesotaCare major program JJ, subgroup M, eligibility group 2 that will change to less than or equal to 215% FPG effective July 1, 2009.
m Deleted MinnesotaCare groups from the Minimum Income Limit for 175% FPG. There is no longer a minimum income limit for this standard.
n Section 22.05.40 - 200 Percent of FPG.
m MinnesotaCare Major Program Eligibility Type (MPET) FFA4 was eliminated April 1, 2009.
m Deleted MinnesotaCare major program BB; the maximum for this MPET is less than or equal to 250% FPG effective July 1, 2009.
m Deleted MinnesotaCare major program FF, subgroup A, eligibility group 2 from the Minimum Income Limit for 200% FPG. There is no longer a minimum income limit for this standard.
n Section 22.05.45 - 215 Percent of FPG (New).
This new standard is effective July 1, 2009, for MinnesotaCare major programs FF and JJ.
n Section 22.05.50 - 250 Percent of FPG (New).
This new standard is effective July 1, 2009, for MinnesotaCare major program BB.
n Section 22.05.55 - 275 Percent of FPG.
Changes standard for FFA2 to greater than 215% and less than or equal to 275% and MPET JJA2 to greater than 215% and less than or equal to 275%.
n Section 25.05 - MinnesotaCare Premiums.
Incorporates bulletin #09-21-02, "DHS Exempts Military Members Who Completed Tour of Active Duty and Their Families from Payment of MinnesotaCare Premiums."
n Section 25.05.15 - MinnesotaCare Reinstatement.
Incorporates bulletin #08-21-11, "Health Care Determinations for Certain MinnesotaCare Enrollees Closed for Nonpayment of Premiums."
n 25.05.35 - Premium Exemption for Military Members and Their Families (New).
Incorporates bulletin #09-21-02, "DHS Exempts Military Members Who Completed Tour of Active Duty and Their Families from Payment of MinnesotaCare Premiums."
n 25.10.10 - Ongoing MA-EPD Premiums.
The address and fax number for sending MA-EPD Good Cause claims has changed.
Chapter 30 - Other Related Programs
n Section 30.30 - Other Needs.
Incorporates bulletin #07-85-03, "DHS Issues Policy Information for the Safe at Home (SAH) Address Confidentiality Program."