M E M O R A N D U M

IM-119  09/20/02 INCREASE IN THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE INCOME LIMIT
FOR SINGLE INDIVIDUALS


SUBJECT:
INCREASE IN THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE INCOME LIMIT FOR SINGLE INDIVIDUALS
 
DISCUSSION:
Effective October 1,2002 Medical Assistance non-spend down income limit will be 80% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL), currently $591.00, instead of the SSI maximum, currently $545.00. This change was authorized by Senate Bill-4, passed in the 2001 Special Legislative Session.   Single individuals will now spend down to $591.00 rather than $545.00. This change does not effect couple cases, as the SSI maximum for a couple is $817.00 (currently 82% FPL).

IMU5 Changes:
The IMU5 system will require the $591.00 figure starting September 23, 2002 for entries in field 33 for single individual MA cases. All active single individual spend down cases will be updated on the weekend of September 21, 2002. All single individual spend down cases with income at or below $591.00 will be converted to non-spend down. Cases with spend down amounts of less than $1.00 will also be converted to non-spend down. When entering the IMU5 transaction prior to mass adjustment, use the current SSI figure. When entering the IMU5 transaction after the adjustment, enter the $591.00 figure. The new amount will be printed on the invoices that are scheduled to be mailed on September 23, 2002.

Effective October 1, 2002 all spend down amounts must be even dollar amounts. When completing the budget (IM-30A) round the adjusted gross income (line 14) down prior to determining the spend down. An edit will occur in IMU5 if a spend down amount in field 35 is less than one dollar. 

PENDING APPLICATIONS:
All applications taken before October 1, 2002 are still based on a quarterly spend down (refer to memorandum IM-106). For any quarters that end prior to 10/01/02 use $545.00 as the income limit to determine the spend down amount. For quarters that end 10/31/02 or 11/30/02 use $591.00 as the income limit.
 
NECESSARY ACTION:
  • Review this memorandum with all appropriate staff.
  • Begin using $591.00 as the income limit figure for Medical Assistance budgets for single individuals.
DS
Distribution #6
IM-118
[ 2002 Memorandums ]
 IM-120