SR 14-23 Dated 01/14

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases updates to the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary 135 (SLMB135) resource limits.

BACKGROUND

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) generally releases the annual updates to the QMB/SLMB/SLMB135 resource limit in mid to late-November, so these figures are often released with the annual January Mass Change along with other annual updates associated with the adult programs of assistance. This year, CMS did not officially release the revised resource limits possibly because of the federal government furlough and/or because of the implementation of health care reform. As such, we were notified of the new figures the week of February 13, 2014, past the deadlines needed for the annual January Mass Change project. In future years, as long as the figures from CMS are received timely, the QMB/SLMB/SLMB135 resource limit updates will return to being released in the annual January Mass Change.

POLICY

The QMB/SLMB/SLMB135 resource limits have increased to:

�      $7,160 for an individual (from $7,080); and

�      $10,750 for a couple (from $10,620).

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

The increased QMB/SLMB/SLMB135 resource limits have been coded into New HEIGHTS.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Adult Assistance Manual Topics

Section 407.07  QMB, SLMB, and SLMB135 Resource Limits

Revised Medical Assistance Manual Topics

Section 407.07  QMB, SLMB, and SLMB135 Resource Limits

IMPLEMENTATION

The policy released in this SR is effective January 1, 2014.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

No special client notification is planned or needed.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Division of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm, effective March 3, 2014. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Adult Assistance and Medical Assistance Manuals.

DFA/JBV:s