Cooperation in Pursuit of Medical Support

Tools #

• Hand Off: Use Child Support Hand Off for where to send the CS-201 on approved applications

Cooperation in Pursuit of Medical Support #

The parent or caretaker must cooperate with the Family Support Division-Child Support (FSD-CS) in the pursuit of medical support, unless there is Good Cause for refusing to cooperate. They must provide information about the other parent(s) and work with FSD to obtain child support for the child(ren) or provide verification if Good Cause is claimed. Failure to cooperate could result in a sanction and reduction of benefits.

All Good Cause determinations are made by IM staff and approved by Program Coordinators prior to being sent to FSD-CS.

When approving a child(ren) for non-premium MO HealthNet and one or both parents are not in the home:

NOTE: This includes households with stepparents. If biological parent(s) is not in the home, the CS-201 is needed for the absent parent(s).

• • Send CS-201 and IM-31A after MO HealthNet Approval
    • • Participants need to either identify the absent parent OR claim Good Cause, but NOT BOTH. To assist with this, the following paragraph, must be entered exactly as written on the free-form part of the IM-31A:

Enclosed is the Referral/Information for Child Support Services (CS-201) notice. Because there is an absent parent(s) of a child living in your home, you are required to complete a referral form (CS-201) for each child without 1 or 2 parents living in the home.

If you have Good Cause for not completing the CS-201, you must complete the Second Notice of Right to Claim Good Cause for Refusal to Cooperate in Child Support Enforcement (IM-2E Part 2) which you received with your Approval Notice (IM-33) and provide documentation. Good Cause and appropriate documentation is described on the IM-2E Part 2 form.

Only one of the 2 forms (CS-201 or IM-2E Part 2) must be submitted.

Please clearly add your DCN and name to all documents. This will ensure their association with your case.

• • • • NOTE: The IM-2E Part 2 notice is automatically sent out from MEDES to any household with a child receiving non-premium coverage at the time of the approval.
        • • If the information is not received, attempt to complete the CS-201 over the phone with the participant. If they cannot be reached, complete the form and send to FSD.IntakeCenter@dss.mo.gov.

• • IM-2E Part 2 or CS-201 Submitted by Participant to the Income Maintenance Unit or Family Support Division
    • • When one of the two forms are submitted by participants to FSD, field staff must:
        • • Review form thoroughly:
            • • If the CS-201 indicates possible Good Cause, contact the participant to discuss and confirm they meet the necessary requirements to establish Good Cause not to cooperate, refer to policy 4.7.1 Good Cause Overview.
              • If Good Cause is confirmed, or they cannot be reached by phone:
                • • Send IM-31A and IM-2E Part 2 requesting documentation of their good cause.
                  • Note: MEDES is programmed to send IM-2E Part 2 automatically.
                  • Allow 20 days to return the IM-2E Part 2 and verification of Good Cause.
                  • The 20 days can be extended for up to 45 days if they have difficulty obtaining verification.
              • If the IM-2E Part 2 claims Good Cause, review and follow the process for determining Good Cause as outlined in policy 4.7.2 Determining Good Cause for Refusal to Cooperate with Child Support. Submit to Program Coordinator for approval or rejection.
      • Scan and enter a copy into the ECM, then:
        • • For all completed CS-201 forms where all parties can be identified (including custodial, non-custodial/alleged parent, and children), email to:
            • • FSD.IntakeCenter@dss.mo.gov
          • For all completed CS-201 forms where the non-custodial/alleged parent is “unknown” and cannot be identified, scan the CS-201 and email to:
            • • CS.MEDESLiaison@dss.mo.gov 

• • CS-201 Submitted by Participant to Child Support Division
    • • Participants ONLY may submit the CS-201 to Child Support Division by:
        • • mail: Family Support Division, PO Box 6790, Jefferson City, MO 65102-6790; or
          • fax: 573-635-7545

• • Good Cause Approved
    • • If the IM-2E Part 2 is received, Good Cause must be approved by a Program Coordinator. If Good Cause is approved, send only a Communication Transmittal (IM-16) to FSD.IntakeCenter@dss.mo.gov
      • State that the individual listed has been approved for Good Cause. Do not sent Good Cause Documentation to Child Support.
      • To ensure safety of participants, determine if the case should be sent to the Protected Load by reviewing Protected Caseloads for guidelines and case transfer information. Otherwise, enter all Good Cause evidence in the ECM.

• • Good Cause Not Approved
    • • If the IM-2E Part 2 is received, and Good Cause is not approved by the Program Coordinator in your office, complete and send a CS-201 and a Communication Transmittal (IM-16) to:
        • • FSD.IntakeCenter@dss.mo.gov or CS.MEDESLiaison@dss.mo.gov (see above in section titled IM-2E PART 2 or CS-201 Submitted by Participant to Family Support Division for the appropriate one to use)
          • State on the IM-16 that the individual requested Good Cause but was denied.
      • Please remember that only the Child Support Division can request any action regarding non-cooperation.

See MAGI CCIU Guide: CS-201 for more information

See TA CCIU Guide: Assign for more information

Child Support Sanction #

When a MO HealthNet parent or non-parent caretaker relative (caretaker relative) is required to cooperate with Child Support Enforcement (CSE) in pursuit of medical support and fails to do so without good cause, CSE can request a sanction against the parent/caretaker relative. Sanctioning a parent/caretaker relative may end their MO HealthNet eligibility.

NOTE: Only CSE can request a sanction be imposed or lifted. Income Maintenance (IM) staff can only impose a sanction upon request from CSE. IM staff can only lift a sanction upon request from CSE.

NOTE: When a sanction is imposed, MEDES will create an Adverse Action. When the Adverse Action expires, MEDES will adjust the Application Details as needed if the participant is not eligible for another level of coverage that does not require CSE cooperation such as MPW or UWHS.

The Extended Eligibility-Adverse Action evidence will show 20 days, as an IM80PRE must be sent first before the sanction to allow for applicant to report disability, etc. and for the worker to determine if ex-parte is needed for a level of coverage that does not require cooperation with CSE.

Enter A Child Support Sanction #

End A Child Support Sanction #