An important new Medicaid Communication (MedComm) was recently issued by the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS). As we had previously discussed, due to the COVID-19 emergency, Medicaid has loosened certain eligibility and post-eligibility rules. The MedComm explains and reconfirms our understanding of the changes in these areas:
Terminations: If you were approved for or receiving Medicaid in March 2020, you cannot be terminated for the length of the emergency unless you wish to do so voluntarily. Terminations occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in resources (like selling a house and getting cash), changes in income (like getting a new pension from a deceased spouse), change in insurance coverage (like getting Medicare for turning 65) or failure to provide information to a Medicaid agency (information is usually requested on an annual basis). If you had been on Medicaid in March and have been terminated for any reason without your consent, you should be reinstated. Call us if you are experiencing problems with this.
Applications: Medicaid is allowing “self-attestation” of income and resources in certain situations where they may have previously insisted on bank statements or other proofs that cannot be gotten during the COVID emergency. “Self-attestation” is a sworn statement signed by an applicant or representative to declare what their income or resources are as of an application date. Because it is sworn, attestation is a process to be taken seriously in conjunction with legal advice.
Clinical Eligibility: MLTSS Medicaid eligibility will be processed in the emergency without completion of the usual face-to-face clinical assessments that were typically required, as long as the facilities or individuals follow the procedures outlined in this separate guidance from Division on Aging Services. Call us with your questions about this change in process.
Stimulus Payments: No stimulus payment will be counted toward resource eligibility for Medicaid. No enhanced unemployment payment ($600) will count toward income eligibility for Medicaid. This reconfirms what we had discussed earlier this month.
Everyone’s individual situation right now is a little different, so this new policy guidance will affect each person differently when applied to the individual’s case. Contact us at 732-382-6070 to discuss how this will affect you or your family members.