Economic Services Committee Minutes - October 13, 2004

October 22, 2004

Economic Services Committee

 

Mission : To advocate for and promote policy and procedures that will result in better service delivery and program administration.

 

To: Economic Services Committee Members

 

From: George Perry, Co-Chair

 

Re: Economic Services Committee Meeting scheduled for November 3, 2004 will be held at Wake Commons in room 100A & 100B. We will then be back at Wake County Human Services through June 2005 in either room 2132 or 2149. Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Thanks to Bobbie Rainey for the October minutes and Connie Melville for chairing the meeting.

 

Columbus County will be responsible for the November minutes.

 

Since we do not know how long the presentations will be from the different divisions, please come early if you are presenting to the Economic Services Committee.

 

Agenda

10:00-10:20   Division of Medical Assistance

  Policy and Automation

10:20-10:40   Division of Social Services

Policy and Automation

10:40-11:00   Family Support and Child Welfare Services

11:00-11:20   Division of Aging

11:20-12:00   Subcommittees

12:00 ---   Executive Session

  Minutes   

    Committee Reports

Old Business

    New Business   

 

 

October 13, 2004

Economic Service Committee Minutes

 

Connie Melville called the meeting to order. Roger Penrod stated that the SIAC committee would be joining the Economic Service Committee as a sub committee. The Directors Association thought this would be a good idea. Connie Melville explained the meeting procedures to the SIAC committee.

 

DMA – Andy Wilson:

• Federal Government has extended MQB-E through November 20, 2004. DMA will extend through 12-31-04. DMA Adm. Letter #14-03, Addendum 10 has been signed. Extensions update to run the night of October 14, 2004.
• TANF reauthorization extended through March 31, 2005. Transitional Medicaid also extended for the same time period.
• Continuing to work on State Appeal backlog. Ed has assured them that this is a top agenda item.
• Disability Reviews when disability overturned - Hearing Officers will get training on this. The number of old cases in storage at DSS is 17,000 of which 250 has past the reexamine date. Have to work out what to do with those cases.
• Policy principle for undue hardship for transfer of assets - Attorney Generals office working with them. Hopefully have rules at next month meeting. Looking at least ten months before policy can be issued.
• Questions:

Q – What is the status of a Health Choice Freeze?

A – Right now none in the planning.

Q- Barbara Brooks sent an e-mail concerning the Medicaid Modernization Acts. What are the implications to DSS.

A – Andy will ask Barbara to have information for the November 3 rd meeting.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Effective February 1, 2005 Andy Wilson will be retired. He will continue to work on undue hardship policy.

 

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES – Jane Schwartz:

• Finished up in the western counties that were affected by Hurricane Ivan. USDA and the Food and Nutrition Association ran a modified disaster program in five western counties (Avery, Haywood, Buncombe, Jackson, Haywood & Henderson) from September 26-30, 2004. Total issuance almost 65,000 in manual replacement. Haywood not eligible for manual replacement. Buncombe had the largest replacement.
• Rhonda and her staff had conversation with Washington about the SNAP program. Think we are on the short road to approval of plan. It could be six to eight months after approval before the program can be put on the street.

• Rhonda stated there are 31,000 potentials eligible.
• Don Arnett in USDA came to North Carolina and met with Secretary Hooker Odom to do a global review. They talked about Food Stamps, WIC, Summer Feeding, etc. The one that raised eyebrows was the Food Stamps program and where we rank. We are the 2 nd lowest in the South East region in overall participation rate. Only Florida is lower. Outreach is necessary to change this.
• Preparing communication with H&R Block to do a minimal outreach doing the upcoming tax season. The staff at H&R Block will be trained. If client appears to be eligible based on their income for last year they will be given the one page 8207applicaation and encouraged to follow through with the full-page application.

• Questions:

Q – Will counties be able to get statistical data of the number of eligibles for their county?

A – Yes.

Q – Will H&R Block explain emergency benefits?

A – No.

Q – What date will DSS look at as date of application?

A – The date DSS receive the application.

Q - Do the State have any other outreach plans?

A – The State in the past had outreach staff but do not have any now. There are some counties who have outreach programs.

Q – People released from prison are showing up at DSS with paperwork that says automatic eligible for Food Stamp and Medicaid.

A – They do get this information before they are released but they are not automatically eligible. This is a problem in Green, Cumberland, Sanford and Craven County. David Prince will address this issue.

LIEAP is a couple of weeks away. Over 200,000 auto approved letters. Last year the total was 198,900. The program grows every year.

• Questions:

Q – What is the percentage of increase from year-to-year?

A – Will have the answer at the next meeting. Tennessee and South Carolina has a participation rate at 90%.

Q – What is the county individual participation rate?

A – Payment Accuracy meeting next week. Will send to List serve and send to Directors.

 

Rhonda McLamb:

• USDA has awarded a grant to help with the food stamp application form. A private consultant firm will also help with this project.

 

David Prince:

• Share the Warmth Program is like Project Share policy. All references to cooling have been taken out of the policy. Active in 34 counties. This program is for any residential customer. Can get $200 from each pot of money. Motioned and 2 nd that EP-921 be approved. Motion approved.
• On September 22, 2004 ABAWD letter mailed out disabling codes 01 thru 09. There were 15,036 names to be worked by October 8, 2004. As of this date there are 715 cases that have not been touched.
• Career Start counties going okay (Catawba, Lenoir, Scotland, Hertford and Rockingham). Will start with Scotland County. Career Start is designed to help people get jobs.
• Now have website. Letters will be going out with this information. The website address is ssw.unc.edu/foodstamps.
• If anyone have questions about the leveraging incentive program letter can give David a call.

 

FAMILY SUPPORT & CHILD WELFARE SERVICES – Sara Mims/David Atkinson:

• As of 9-30-04 TANF extension passed through 3-31-05. Other programs are included in this extension.
• SIS Policy rescinded that involved 5027 and the day sheets for WFFA transportation. The problem has not gone away and still have to find a way to track transportation cost. Policy rescinded because of the burden on counties.
• Work First Performance Goals was handed out. These goals will go to the Work First Committee for approval. If any one has any questions about the goals, they are to be directed to Hank Bowers. Right now are staying with the same performance goals.
• There will be a IV-E Foster Care & Adoption Review the last week of April 2005. Counties have until November 15 th to do a bliss of their cases. Counties will be given a list of all children in the sample pull and they are to review every child on the list to make sure they are IV-E eligible.
• Questions:

Q – How many counties requested elective status?

A – As of last count eleven.

Q – Will TANF funds go on EBT cards?

A – Robin states this is on hold and that Medicaid has priority.

 

DIVISION OF AGING – No report.

 

Subcommittee Meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

• Signup sheet passed around. Roger Penrod asked for SIAC group names and e-mail address.
• Motioned and 2 nd to approve minutes as written.

 

Committee Reports:

• Food Stamps Policy effective 12-1-04 approved: Sections 210, 250, 263, 265, 280, 400, 450, 410 and 510. Sections 410 & 510 were not in the package that was sent out prior to the meeting but will be mailed out.
• SIAC Committee Report. If they get policy ahead of time they will review material and make comment doing subcommittee meeting.

 

Old Business: - None

New Business:

• If SIAC gets reports from the State that is not on the list, they will be able to give this information at the beginning of the meeting. Details to be worked out.

• Joseph Scott from Forsyth County is working on SNAP project.
• More details at next meeting about the Medicare Prescription Drug Card program. There is a $23.00 flat rate increase in medical expense. Could see increase of $123.00 in a 12 month certification period.
• November meeting will be held November 3, 2004 at the Commons Building. Please note change in date and place.
• Andy was given a request for Barbara or her designee to talk about upcoming changes for Medicaid at the next meeting.

 

Meeting was adjourned.

 

Submitted by Bobbie Rainey of Warren County DSS