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Medicare Savings Plan Glitch

By Karen on June 14, 2016 in Front Page Announcement Only

UPDATE: There will be no interruption of the Medicare Savings Plan!!! (Unless your client actually no longer qualifies for it.)

“We want to make sure that people who received the incorrect letter understand that they won’t see a reduction in their Social Security checks because of this error,” said Chris Priest, deputy director of Medical Services for MDHHS. “We quickly corrected the mistake before any checks went out and are working now with our federal partners. MDHHS understands the worries that this faulty information caused seniors and other residents. We apologize for the confusion caused by the system error.” http://www.michigan.gov/minewswire/0,4629,7-136-3452-386969–,00.html

I just found out that there was a mistake made in Lansing that affects people whose Medicare premiums are paid by Social Security. Those premiums are not being paid until this issue is fixed. This means that your Social Security is probably going to be decreased. Both Social Security and DHHS are aware of this situation. Any small increases in SNAP amounts are only temporary.

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AASC youtube about service coordination

By Karen on October 16, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

This video about service coordination explains the basics of what we do, for those who have no idea about SCs.

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Home Helper’s New Payment System

By Karen on June 15, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

I researched for my members, upcoming changes to the Medicaid funded home helper’s reporting, as of July 2015. I’m passing this information along to you. Starting in July, the helpers will need to report online, in order to be paid for their services. You can check out the Electronic Service Verification (ESV) online on Michigan.gov/homehelp. My instructions (attached) are from a You Tube video, the address is on the instructions in a handout for members and their home helpers. Home helpers can learn to use the State’s Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS) to access their Electronic Service Verification (ESV). All times and specific services will be recorded each month by the home helpers and submitted electronically. It looks easy, just clicking the mouse! Especially when Members have a home helper that is a friend or family member, member will be concerned with them receiving payments for taking care of them. My member’s home helper is also a member. We had a computer use tutoring session in my office this morning! It went great! Hope this will be helpful!

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Home Heat Credit Deadline September 30

By Karen on May 28, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

People may believe it’s too late to file their HHC. My best practice to get the word out was to deliver notes urging members to file for HHC and notify their DHHS worker if the amount was $20 or more. Members who used AARP tax prep were given notes that I provided and AARP passed them out, if they qualified for $20 or more. The notes urged them to report this to their DHS worker. In a note to my actives, I offered to assist to complete the claim form and to email the signed form to their workers. Many members thought they would have a SNAP CUT if they received over $20, or that they don’t pay for heat, so they couldn’t get a HHC. These beliefs had to be explained away. I’ve done a lot of these claims and I’m available if you have questions.

The following was from January 2015………(edited)

I received verification from DHS supervision about assisting members that were effected by the Heat and Eat decision. The State had to provide $20 for heat to each food assistance eligible public assistance recipient, (about $40 million) and then the Feds could continue funding the higher Bridge card amounts. Michigan did not provide this. However, members that receive $20 or more from the Home Heat Credit (HHC) will preserve their, “higher” Bridge card amounts. The DHS workers do have access to the Michigan Treasury’s HHC records. The deadline to file a HHC is September 30. The explanation from the Kalamazoo DHS supervisor follows: You are correct that we have seen many FAP benefits cut, especially those in subsidized housing where their rent includes heat. This resulted from a federal law change. Lansing along with other states were able to give all FAP cases the full heat standard by issuing $1.00 per year in energy money to clients. The federal level considered this a loophole and shut it down. They changed the law to state that at least $20 in energy funds, had to be given yearly to each FAP client in order to give every FAP client the full heat standard. This amount was too costly for the state to exercise.

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Washington Sq Falls Prevention presentation

By Karen on April 27, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

Our educational presentation for April is about fall prevention. The speakers are from our local PACE program, with CentraCare. We hope to beat our record of attendees!

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State Emergency Relief Application: Eviction & Energy Assistance

By Karen on March 2, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

In case MiBridges is not cooperating, here is the paper DHS 1514 Application for State Emergency Relief. This is for past due and shut off notices for electric company payments and for Court Summons level eviction prevention payments. All other SER forms are obsolete and the DHS worker will have to deny the application. If the client does not sign it, it will also b denied. I could not locate the interactive application, online. If you have it, please share!

I just tried to print it and the print was too large. You can get this at your local DHS office from the lobby navigator. Otherwise, I can email it to you, if you ask me.

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Here’s Application for Mi-CAP!! New Mi-CAP food program gives $171 monthly

By Karen on February 18, 2015 in Front Page Announcement Only

Some Members may have received an application for Mi-CAP, it’s only for members with SSI as their only income source, and no open Bridge card case. SCs can inform members about this great program that provides $171, monthly, on their Bridge cards. One of our members was advised by DHS to have his Bridge card closed, and apply for the Mi-CAP. If they have an open regular Bridge benefit, they will not qualify. They will have a new worker, in Lansing, and I hear it only takes 2 weeks to open the case. ~~I hope to have a copy of the DHS-513 Mi-CAP application, soon, to post, unless DHS wants their workers to complete applications.~~ Here is some information about applying and attached flyers and reminder cards that you can use if you want. (Don’t forget to replace my and Kenny’s contact information with your own!!!) I couldn’t attach the flyer and reminder cards, so email me if you may want them and I’ll be happy to email them to you. Referrals to MICAP:. The DHS local offices may refer an individual to MiCAP. The DHS-513, MiCAP Application, must be completed and signed by an indi-vidual, then sent to the MiCAP unit at: MiCAP PO Box 30784 Lansing, MI 48909-4561 Applications may also be faxed to MiCAP at 517-335-6454

MiCAP sent the application, so here it is for you to save to your Microsoft Word!!!

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Easy Legal interactive Website

By Karen on November 6, 2014 in Free Publications & Materials, Reference Information

Here is a very user friendly free legal resource I tried out today while assisting a member that wants a divorce and has a lot of questions.

http://michiganlegalhelp.org/

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Managing Diabetes Educational Presentation

By Karen on October 24, 2014 in Educational Workshops, Food/Cooking/Nutrition Topics

Washington Square will have a diabetes educator and a nutritionist from a hospital present about healthy eating for diabetics and managing diabetes, next Tuesday.

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Why Is Matt Smiling? I’ll tell you why………..

By Karen on October 21, 2014 in Educational Workshops, OTHER Educational Workshop Topics

Matt-Extraordinary solicitor of donated prizes!!

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