DSHS Updates for Community Services Division (CSD) September 25 th, 2015 Spokane, WA

DSHS Updates for Community Services Division (CSD) September 25 th, 2015 Spokane, WA

Larry Frick New Community Service Office Administrator Tri- County

Kellie Bjerkaker New Community Service Office Administrator = Mt. Vernon Roland Davis New Community Service Office Administrator Rainier Mary O Brien New Community Service Office Administrator Alderwood Alan McLaughlin New Community Service Office Administrator Auburn CSO Region 2 Updates

Gloria Marshall-Perez Interim Administrator for Port Angeles and Forks until position is filled Mike Knapp Acting Deputy Administrator for Lakewood

Angela Hagan Permanent Customer Service Contact Center Administrator North West Phone Team Dasha Mitchell Permanent Customer Service Contact Center Administrator Child Care West

Classic Medicaid: Spenddown Program Oldest Document* Total Cases* 9/10/15 228 Classic Medicaid: Daily Spenddown Emergent Cases Oldest Document* 9/15/15 (Same Day) Total Cases* 4 Classic Medicaid: Alien Emergency Medical Program Oldest Document* Total Cases* 9/11/15 37 *As of 9/15/15

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

In 2013, the Public Consulting Group (PCG) conducted an extensive study of Washington s medical and public assistance eligibility system. Governor Inslee s proposed budget was revealed in 2014 and included the PCG s recommendation, requiring DSHS staff to assist applicants and recipients of public assistance with their applications for Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) medical programs Effective October 1, all DSHS Financial Service Specialist and WorkFirst Program Specialist staff will assist potentially eligible customers in applying for Apple Health Medical by entering their applications into Healthplanfinder (HPF).

SCOPE OF DSHS ASSISTANCE

DSHS staff will determine eligibility for DSHSadministered public assistance programs prior to assisting customers with their applications for Apple Health. Staff will assist customers in HPF when requested by the client and/or when prompted by a system flag which indicates potential eligibility (and the customer is interested in applying). DSHS staff will continue to refer customers to the Health Care Authority (HCA) or Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) for any post-eligibility activity including plan selection, post-eligibility review, changes of circumstance, etc.

DSHS staff will have ability to resolve only two error codes: - identity proofing errors - discrepancies between the demographic HPF and information in ACES (client eligibility system) When other types of error codes are displayed in the system, the customer will be directed to contact appropriate entity either HCA or HBE, depending on the specific code.

IMPLEMENTATION

Prior to implementation on October 1, DSHS staff will receive mandatory training in HPF application assistance.

Questions?

ABAWD Changes Effective January 1, 2016

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Basic Food program statewide waiver for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) work requirements, and benefit time limits will end on December 31, 2015 only in King, Snohomish, and parts of Pierce counties. During the recession, our statewide waiver was approved based on unemployment and labor data. With the unemployment rate being lower, we just aren t able to keep the waiver everywhere

Starting January 1, 2016, non-exempt ABAWDS in these 3 counties will only be able to get 3 months of Basic Food benefits unless they: Work at least 20 hours per week averaged monthly (80 hours per month); or Complete at least 16 hours per month of unpaid volunteer work; or Participate in our Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) or Resources to Initiate Successful Employment (RISE) programs

Some people on Basic Food are exempt from ABAWD work requirements. These rules can be found in WAC 388-444-0035 and 388-444-0010, and will be updated in late 2015. In general, you are exempt from the ABAWD requirements if you are: Under eighteen or over forty-nine years old; Determined to be physically or mentally unable to work for at least 3 months in the future; Caring for a person who is incapacitated; Living in a house with a child, even if the child is not receiving Basic Food; Pregnant; Applying for or receiving unemployment benefits; A student* in school at least half time; Participating in a chemical dependency treatment and rehabilitation program; or Eligible for one of the annual federal-approved exemption slots under the fifteen percent exemption rule. *A student enrolled in higher education must meet the requirements under WAC 388-482-0005 in order to be eligible for Basic Food.

DSHS has been working on plans to help ABAWDs keep their Basic Food. This planning includes: Mailing postcards to ABAWDs to offer BFET services; Improving our software so we code all ABAWD exemptions when appropriate; Maximizing the waived counties and zip codes; Making contacts and lists of volunteer sites where ABAWDs could work; and Updating letters and communication so that ABAWDs understand what they have to do.

For questions about the ABAWD changes, BFET, or RISE, email DSHS at: JobHelp@dshs.wa.gov.