State of Missouri Single Audit Corrective Action Plan Year Ended June 30, 2024 State Agency: Department of Social Services – Family Support Division Audit Finding Number: 2024-001 – Medicaid and CHIP MAGI-Based Participant Eligibility Redeterminations Name of the contact person responsible for corre...
State of Missouri Single Audit Corrective Action Plan Year Ended June 30, 2024 State Agency: Department of Social Services – Family Support Division Audit Finding Number: 2024-001 – Medicaid and CHIP MAGI-Based Participant Eligibility Redeterminations Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Stacy Kaylor Anticipated completion date for corrective action: N/A Recommendation: The DSS through the MHD and the FSD continue to review and correct cases for participants with manual overrides in the MEDES, ensure redeterminations are completed for these participants as required, and close the cases of any ineligible participants. In addition, the DSS should ensure system controls are functioning as designed for these participants. DSS Response: The DSS disagrees with this finding. The DSS disagrees there is a significant deficiency in internal controls. As noted in the finding, from the 60 participants selected, the SAO did not identify any participants with previously-established overrides; therefore, no incorrect payments were cited. Section 6008 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) required states to provide continuous coverage, through the end of the month in which the PHE period ends, to all Medicaid beneficiaries who were enrolled in Medicaid on or after March 18, 2020, regardless of any changes in eligibility unless the individual voluntarily terminated eligibility, is deceased, or moved out of state. As required by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) during the PHE, the DSS had processes in place to terminate eligibility for individuals who were deceased, voluntarily requested closure, or reported they have moved out of state when a current change was reported. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, signed on December 29, 2022, amended section 6008 of the FFCRA such that the continuous enrollment condition ended on March 31, 2023. During the PHE, the DSS did not conduct reviews of cases that did not report current changes. DSS resumed initiating renewals starting in April 2023 under the unwinding plan submitted to CMS with the goal to complete all unwinding related renewals prior to the deadline of August 31, 2024. However, DSS encountered challenges in completing all unwinding renewals by the established deadline. On August 29, 2024, CMS released guidance recognizing the challenges that many states faced impacting the ability to complete unwinding related renewals and restore routine operations within the original timelines established, extending the allowance for states to continue to use the exception under 42 CFR 435.912(e) through December 31, 2025. A report identifying all individuals with manual overrides was created in August 2023 to ensure that individuals with determinations created outside of the MEDES system are being renewed timely. The DSS continues to work this report monthly. DSS staff are working to complete renewals on participants included on the report that require an annual renewal. DSS will complete redeterminations on all cases with manual overrides that have had continuous coverage for over one year by July 31, 2025. DSS notes that not all cases with manual overrides have had continuous coverage for more than one year and therefore do not currently require a redetermination. DSS will complete redeterminations on these cases when they become due. DSS will continue to use this report to ensure that all individuals that receive coverage outside of the MEDES system will receive their annual renewal as required by CFR 435.916.