This article is a section taken from Manual Letter #17.2, a part of the revisions and additions to the Minnesota Healthcare Program Eligibility Policy Manual.

Table of Contents

Manual Letter #17.2

This manual letter lists new and revised policy for the Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2017. The effective date of new or revised policy may not be the same date the information is added to the EPM. Refer to the Summary of Changes to identify when the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) implemented the policy.

I. Summary of Changes

This section of the manual letter provides a summary of newly added sections and changes made to
existing sections.

A. EPM Home Page

A hyperlink is added to the EPM home page for this manual letter.

Bulletin #16-21-12, DHS Announces MinnesotaCare Eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Grantees, is removed from the home page because the policy in the bulletin is incorporated with this manual letter.

Hyperlinks to the following bulletins are added to the home page because they have not yet been incorporated into the EPM:

Bulletin #17-21-05, DHS Explains How Unified Cash Asset Policy Affects Medical Assistance (MA) Eligibility
Bulletin #17-21-06, DHS Clarifies the Medical Assistance MAGI Based Income Calculation

B. Section 1.2.1 Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) Application Forms

The change to this section under Request to Apply for MHCP (DHS-3417B) clarifies that this form sets the date of application and to apply the applicant must submit a complete application within 30 days of the written request.

C. Section 1.2.3 MHCP Date of Application

The change to this section under Request to Apply clarifies that if the applicant uses DHS-3417B to set the date of application a completed application must be received by the applicant within 30 days of the written request to apply.

D. Section 1.3.2.5 MHCP Overpayments

This section incorrectly added a legal citation for Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 1396(b). The incorrect citation was removed and replaced with a citation to United States Code, title 42, section 1396(d).

E. Section 2.1.1.2.1.3 Medical Assistance (MA) Cost Effective Insurance

The change to this section under Enrollee Responsibilities clarifies that CHIP-funded infants must have MA redetermined as non-CHIP-funded infants prior to a cost-effective determination if they are enrolled in other health insurance.

F. Section 2.1.2.2.2 MA Immigration Status

The change to this section under MA Eligibility for Noncitizen Children under Age 21 and Pregnant Women has been updated to state that people granted Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not eligible for MA as they are not lawfully present noncitizens.

G. Section 2.2.2.1 Medical Assistance for Families with Children and Adults (MA-FCA) Bases of Eligibility

This section has been updated to include that CHIP-funded MA may be available to infants who are not enrolled in other health insurance and have income between 275% and 283% FPG. It also clarifies that CHIP-funded infants who gain other health insurance must be redetermined for MA as a non-CHIP-funded infant.

I. Section 2.3.1.1 MA-ABD Mandatory Verifications

This section was updated under Assets to clarify that asset verification is required at application but once an asset is determined excluded it does not need to be verified at renewal. This section was also updated under Income to clarify that if a person is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), only the SSI income is verified. Eligibility for SSI is accepted as verification of other income SSA considers in determining eligibility.

J. Section 2.3.3.3.2.3 MA-ABD Excluded Income

This section has been updated to clarify that SSI and all income used to determine SSI including deemer income are excluded.

K. Section 2.4.2.3.1 MA-LTC Home and Community Based Services Waivers for People with Disabilities

This section has been updated under household composition and family size to clarify that parents of children who are eligible for one of the home and community-based services waiver programs may need to pay a parental fee.

L. Section 2.4.2.5.1 MA-LTC Income Calculation Deductions

This section has been updated to clarify policy on court-ordered spousal maintenance deductions for people who reside in long-term care facilities.

M. Section 3.2.1.2 MinnesotaCare Lawful Presence

This section has been updated to incorporate Bulletin #16-21-12 DHS announces MinnesotaCare Eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Grantees. This section further clarifies that DHS will provide MinnesotaCare coverage to DACA grantees who meet all MinnesotaCare eligibility requirements beginning January 1, 2017.

N. Appendix F Standards and Guidelines

This section has been updated to include annual standard changes that become effective July 1, 2017. Those changes include the Basic Shelter Allowance, Community Spouse Minimum Monthly Income Allowance, Home Maintenance Allowance, SIS-EW Maintenance Needs Allowance, Remedical Care Expense, and the MA Statewide Average Payment for Skilled Nursing Home.

O. Appendix H Lawfully Present Noncitizens

This section has been updated to remove references to DACA grantees for health care eligibility determination.

II. Documentation of Changes

This section of the manual letter documents all changes made to an existing section. Deleted text is displayed with strikethrough formatting and newly added text is displayed with underline formatting. Links to the revised and archived versions of the section are also provided.

A. EPM Home Page
B. Section 1.2.1 MHCP Application Forms
C. Section 1.2.3 MHCP Date of Application
D. Section 1.3.2.5 Overpayments
E. Section 2.1.1.2.1.3.1 Medical Assistance Cost Effective Insurance
F. Section 2.1.2.2.2 MA Immigration Status
G. Section 2.2.2.1 Bases FCA
H. Section 2.2.3.3 Income Limit FCA
I. Section 2.3.1.1 MA-ABD Mandatory Verifications
J. Section 2.3.3.3.2.3 MA ABD Excluded Income
K. Section 2.4.2.3.1 MA LTC Home and Community Based Service Waivers for People with Disabilities
L. Section 2.4.2.5.1 MA-LTC Income Calculation Deductions
M. Section 3.2.1.2 MinnesotaCare Lawful Presence
N. Appendix F Standards and Guidelines
O. Appendix H Lawfully Present Noncitizens

CREDIT: The content of this post has been copied or adopted from the Minnesota Healthcare Programs Eligibility Policy Manual, originally published by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Published: June 1, 2017

This is also part of a series of posts on Minnesota Healthcare Eligibility Policies.