Page 80
MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 101 – Coverage Groups and Processing Applications and Reviews P a g e | 80 Effective Month: September 2023 • An ex parte review is processed without contacting or requiring information from the household. If there is no known change in household circumstances and if all reported income types can be verified through available electronic data sources, use current income verification from these sources to renew eligibility. • When electronic data sources indicate a different employer for a household member than the previous year, an ex parte review is still possible if the income results in eligibility for a beneficiary. A change in employer is not a factor in determining eligibility for an ex parte review. • When a client is approved with zero income at application or full review, DOM can complete future reviews ex parte if no data is returned showing countable income at renewal. The client can be renewed ex parte up to 3 times before a full review is needed to get a new attestation of zero income. • Individuals with retirement benefits that are verified at initial application and remain the same for each payment period (month/quarter, etc.) can be renewed ex parte with notation in case narrative that the retirement/pension benefit is stable income and does not change. Individuals who draw retirement benefits that include an annual cost of living adjustment, such as state retirees from other states, are not candidates for ex parte review since their benefit will gradually increase each year. • FAM should be requested as part of the ex parte process for all resource based COEs. Give FAM 5 business days to return. If FAM does not return on a previously verified resource, the worker can use the amount from the last decision when completing the ex parte review. Document in case narrative that FAM did not return, and DOM is assuming no change in assets. Any FAM data returned following completion of the renewal must be documented and addressed if needed. • If all beneficiaries due for a review can be approved in the same or better program using current information verified through electronic data sources, the recipient is notified of the approval. A pre- populated renewal form is not generated for administrative ex parte renewals.