Massachusetts is moving ahead with July 1st implementation of the new federal proof of citizenship requirements for MassHealth eligibility determinations and redeterminations, despite the fact that federal guidance on the new requirement has still not been issued. Individuals who declare to be a citizen or U.S. national will be required to submit documentation, such as a U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, or birth certificate. (This appears to mean that those applying for MassHealth Limited, Healthy Start, and Uncompensated Care who do not indicate that they are a citizen are excluded from this requirement.)
MassHealth members who also have SSI or Medicare will likely be exempt from this requirement because the state will match against SSA and Medicare databases to verify eligibility. MassHealth is working with Dept of Transitional Assistance (DTA) on a way to gain electronic access to citizenship status for Food Stamp and EAEDC recipients, so that they would also be exempt from having to provide documentation.
Next Steps:
The state plans to establish an outreach program to educate individuals who are likely to be affected.
The state is in the process of updating their verification notices to request verification of citizenship for members who are not known to the DTA and SSA systems.
The state is beginning to draft regulations on this new requirement now.
-From Update - Federal Proof of Citizenship Requirements, e-mail from Kim Simonian, MPH, Health Access and Community Partnerships, Community Benefit Programs05/06