Hi David—

 

This is actually a problem we have seen in states in the past, where a beneficiary with income right on the threshold gets kicked off their MSP when the federal poverty level changes and their Social Security COLA increases, but their state Medicaid system hasn’t updated the income thresholds to keep pace.

 

To answer your question, currently there is no federal regulation in place yet that stops this from happening. NCOA has been strongly advocating with CMS for a more streamlined and simultaneous process for states updating their income criteria to correspond with the new poverty guidelines as soon as they are published.

 

If any of you live in states where you have seen this negatively impact your clients, please share this with us so we can continue to communicate with CMS on the importance of this matter.

 

Brandy

 

Brandy Bauer

Associate Director, Center for Benefits Access

Office: 571-527-3911

xxxxxx@ncoa.org

 

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From: xxxxxx@lists.ncoa.org <xxxxxx@lists.ncoa.org> On Behalf Of David Sage
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 4:24 PM
To: MIPPA <xxxxxx@lists.ncoa.org>
Subject: MIPPA Listserv: COLA

 

Can anyone point me to a Federal regulation that prohibits states from denying, or downgrading, MSP applications because the 2019 COLA has increased income over one of the various cutoff levels?

The COLA raised Social Security checks in January.  My state has not yet changed the 2018 MSP income levels.  So someone who was QMB in December 2018 could be reduced to SLMB status in January or February based on their new 2019 income.  I know some states disregard the 2019 income increase until they have changed the MSP levels.  

 

I believe that this could affect about 22% of all MSP beneficiaries.

Thanks,

Dave Sage

SHINE Counselor in Tampa

 

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