Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) Increases and Rebudgeting of Cases
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Social Security (Title II-SSA) and SSI benefits payments will include a 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is processing COLA re-budgets for impacted members during December 2023.
Nursing facilities and CRCFs will receive a form for impacted members. Please note the forms received will look slightly different depending on which SCDHHS system currently holds the member’s eligibility information. Facilities must indicate the current level of care for the member and submit the form to Blue Cross Blue Shield to update the member’s cost of care. Further information on the rebudgeting process and samples of the forms facilities will receive are listed below.
Nursing Facilities
- Nursing facilities will receive Form MSC002.
- For facilities that bill in Phoenix, cost of care will be updated in Phoenix.
- Nursing facility providers with questions about this bulletin should contact the Nursing Home Provider Liaison Center at 1-877-797-5409 or NursingHomePLC@bcbssc.com.
CRCFs
- CRCFs will receive Form MSC004.
- Section II: A and B of Form MSC004 should be left blank for COLA updates.
- The maximum payment made to a facility will increase to $1,672. The net income limit will increase to $1,753.
- The personal needs allowance (PNA) for optional state supplementation (OSS) recipients who receive recurring income only through SSI will increase by $2 to $81 per month.
- The PNA for OSS recipients who have income other than SSI will increase by $2 to $101 per month.
- CRCF providers with questions about this bulletin should contact OSS Provider Eligibility at OSSProElig@scdhhs.gov.
Resources Providers Can Use to Help with Medicaid Member Annual Reviews
As SCDHHS continues its federally required review of Medicaid member eligibility, a process frequently referred to as “unwinding,” it is reminding providers of resources available to them that can help with this process. SCDHHS has produced several member-facing communications and marketing items and is encouraging providers to post its “submit your review, when it’s time to renew” flyer in patient-facing areas. The flyer is available for download from SCDHHS’ website in English and in Spanish along with other provider resources on SCDHHS’ annual reviews website.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have also produced outreach and educational resources about this process that are available on their website.
Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid program.