COVID 19: Texas Health Steps Automatic Good Cause

COVID 19: Texas Health Steps Automatic Good Cause

Background

Children's Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

COVID guidance previously issued in MEPD and TW Bulletin 20-04, COVID-19 Policy Updates #1 (Item #1), released on March 23, 2020, provided staff with policy and procedures on exploring good cause due to the COVID-19 public health emergency if a certified child is out of compliance with Texas Health Steps requirements.

As households and healthcare professionals continue to get children back on a regular cadence, temporary COVID processes will continue to accommodate the transition back to a regular check-up schedule. Beginning September 11, 2021, the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) will automatically apply the good cause reason, COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, if a certified child, ages 2 through 18, is out of compliance with Texas Health Steps requirements. TIERS will not pend for verification when applying this good cause reason.

After disposition, TIERS will automatically apply the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency good cause reason when a certified child is out of compliance with Texas Health Steps requirements and a renewal is processed for a:

• Children’s Medicaid EDG with a certification period ending in September 2021 through March 31, 2022;
• TANF EDG on or before December 31, 2021; and
• combined case with a TANF EDG processed after December 31, 2021 and a Children’s Medicaid EDG with certification periods ending in September 2021 through March 31, 2022.

TIERS automation is effective with the implementation of Release 110.1 on September 11, 2021.