Here is what Kay is referring to in case you haven't seen it.... CMS Quietly Releases Controversial Medicaid Eligibility Guidelines By John Reichard, CQ HealthBeat Editor Opting to release them at a time of the week that traditionally means they get little attention from the press, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced new guidelines late Friday that states must follow as of July 1 to document eligibility for the Medicaid program. The controversial requirements relate to documenting citizenship and pertain not only to new enrollees, but also to existing enrollees who continue on in Medicaid for any substantial length of time after July 1. The guidelines allow only “rarely” the use of sworn affidavits attesting to citizenship. They emphasize the use of passports and birth certificates to establish eligibility —forms of documentation that advocacy groups for the poor say make it difficult for a significant number of qualified applicants to establish citizenship and stay on or enroll in Medicaid. Advocates favor more liberal use of affidavits, saying that research shows relatively few undeserving people make it onto the Medicaid rolls under the affidavit system. But with illegal immigration swelling, House Republicans applied pressure on CMS to rely almost exclusively on other procedures to assure eligibility. The procedures allow for various other types of paperwork other than passports and birth certificates. They include certificates of naturalization, final adoption decrees, a U.S. citizen ID card, an extract of a hospital birth record, and medical or nursing home admission records showing a place of birth, among others. “Written affidavits may be used only in rare circumstances when the state is unable to secure evidence of citizenship from another listing,” CMS said. “The affidavits must be supplied by at least two individuals, one of whom is not related to the applicant or recipient. Each must attest to having personal knowledge of the event(s) establishing the applicant’s or recipient’s claim of citizenship.” In addition, “those making affidavits must be able to prove their own citizenship and identity for the affidavit to be accepted. Those making affidavits will be subject to prosecution for perjury.” CMS added that “a second affidavit from the applicant ... or other knowledgeable individual explaining why documentary evidence does not exist or cannot be readily obtained must also be requested."
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Mon Jun 12 15:12:30 2006 Subject: RE: Colo. Ballot Can't Have Immigrant Measure I just clarified with our state association that the ballot issue is dead for this year since the deadline to correct the language has come and gone. We can breathe easy I guess for a bit. Hmmmmmmm but the Medicaid ID issue hits us on July 1st - just when you think you have some sense of control! kay Kay Ramachandran CEO/President People's Clinic 3303 N. Broadway Boulder, CO 80304 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (720) 565 - 4115 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bohannan, Robin Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:28 PM To: Boulder County HSA (E-mail) Subject: FW: Colo. Ballot Can't Have Immigrant Measure Forgive me if you've already heard the great news! Colo. Ballot Can't Have Immigrant Measure By JON SARCHE The Associated Press Monday, June 12, 2006; 11:00 AM DENVER -- The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a proposal to deny most state services to illegal immigrants cannot appear on the November ballot. The proposed constitutional amendment, promoted by Defend Colorado Now, violates a state constitutional requirement that initiatives deal with only one subject, the court said in an unanimous opinion. The measure aimed to decrease public spending for the welfare of illegal immigrants in Colorado and restrict access to administrative services, the ruling said. Proponents, who include former Democratic Gov. Dick Lamm, already had begun gathering petition signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The state Title Board approved the measure's language this spring. Activist Manolo Ganzales-Estay challenged the measure in court after the Title Board rejected his request to reconsider its approval of the initiative's language. Fred Elbel, director of Defend Colorado Now, has said if the court found a problem with the measure, he would revise it and supporters would begin gathering signatures anew. The measure would not stop the state from paying for federally mandated services such as public education or emergency medical care. But Elbel has said it would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving welfare and in-state college tuition. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200541.html <http://portal.mxlogic.com/redir/?1KrjLtYQsFIcTpdw0z6Q9OwhDm2RqjVv32Nt0J3blxfUjPoPBo_YjLtPbKoyDww2QXTsKUyDuXX2f0UTvHTKepshuo76XCWC8v4KgGSuxYitd1hYGjFRGDRzG5uZ1ISyPtCWpJ55-WbXWbXNJxYS2NF8Qg2ljWYq81DjPWPd40BI3hfcQg1vjfCy0dllAhzI9Cy0r_qdNYTfM-u0USyrhdFTpopvjuvhdQzmj7Jtz> Robin Bohannan Director of Community Services P.O. Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306 (303) 441-3996 (Ph) / (303) 441-4550 (Fx) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************************************** This email and any attachments, from the Boulder County Department of Community Services, are confidential and intended solely for the user of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The information contained herein may include protected or otherwise privileged information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply to this message and delete the email without disclosure.
