Medicaid Redeterminations Revisited – Part 3

In my blog post last week about Medicaid redeterminations, I wrote about the reasons why Medicaid conducts annual redeterminations.  Recent changes in the written application, however, has caused some confusion.  As I explained last week, the application has more than doubled in length. 

The new “redet” application now looks more like the application filed to get Medicaid approved.  It asks for much of the same information.  The section about resources (assets) asks for a listing of every account opened or closed in the past 5 years.  It also asks for listing of all real estate owned or sold in the past 5 years.  4 or those 5 years have already been answered in previous annual redet applications and/or the original application.   The question should be limited to the past year but it is not.

Section 6 of the new application asks about  transfers made in the last 5 years.  Again, this has already been asked and answered in previous redets or during the original application process.  The concern is that if we answer the question as asked and include transfers which had previously been disclosed, will a new transfer penalty be mistakenly calculated?  That will lead to more wrongful denials or improper penalties.  

It is not clear why these changes were made but what is certain is that the redet process has become more complicated and confusing to Medicaid recipients and their families.  My advice to clients is to proceed carefully.  Time will tell whether my concerns will become reality.