2145.2 Documentation of U.S. Citizenship and Identity

When verification of citizenship and identity cannot be obtained via the Federal Data Hub, documentation of U.S. citizenship and identity must be obtained for individuals requesting medical coverage who claim to be a U.S. citizen. This requirement does not apply to the following individuals:

Current or former SSI recipients

Current or former Medicare beneficiaries

Current or former recipients of Social Security Disability benefits

Children in foster care or recipients of foster care maintenance

Children who are recipients of adoption support payments

Children born on or after July 1, 2006, to a Medicaid recipient as outlined in KFMAM 2320

NOTE: The exemptions above only apply to U.S. citizens. These exemptions do not apply to individuals reporting to be non-citizens (including qualified non-citizens) as the requirements of 2146 apply and documentation of legal status must be obtained.

All documents used to verify citizenship must be retained in the case file indefinitely per 1711 (9) . For persons exempt from the requirement due to SSI or Medicare status, verification of such status is required.

Acceptable documents and the hierarchical protocol for obtaining acceptable documents are described in A-1, Non-Citizen Qualification Chart . When obtaining documents the following applies:

Primary Document - A document that verifies both citizenship and identity (as described in 1322.1(5) ) and is further defined in . The availability of a Primary Document shall be explored prior to using a secondary or other citizenship document. Persons born outside of the United States who were not citizens at birth per 2141 must submit a Primary Document.

Secondary Citizenship Documents - A document verifying citizenship only. The statement of the applicant/recipient that a Primary Document is not available is sufficient to seek a secondary or other document. However, if a primary document is not used, two different documents must be used to establish citizenship and identity.

Third and Fourth Level Citizenship Documents - These may only be used if primary or secondary documents are not available. These documents must show a place of birth and it must match the place of birth reported by the applicant/recipient. A second document verifying identity is also needed. If a second, third or fourth level document is received; this is accepted as a statement from the client that no other primary documents were available.

Written Declaration - A written declaration may be used as verification of citizenship if no other documents are available. The KanCare Clearinghouse Manager, or designee, must approve the declaration in order for it to be considered acceptable verification. A declaration must be provided by at least two separate individuals, one of whom is not related to the individual, who have personal knowledge of the event(s) establishing the claim of citizenship. Item P-8, Third-Party Declaration of Citizenship is used for this purpose. The person(s) making the declaration must: provide proof of his/her own citizenship and identity, and provide information why documentary evidence establishing the individual’s claim of citizenship does not exist or cannot be readily obtained as part of the declaration, and sign the declaration under penalty of perjury in the presence of a witness.

When a declaration is used to document citizenship, the original must be retained in the case file indefinitely.