department of health and social services

Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS)

In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures Act (APA - Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code) and under the authority of Title 31 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 5, Section 512, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) / Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is proposing to amend the Delaware Title XIX Medicaid State Plan and the Division of Social Services Manual regarding the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS).

Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, testimony, briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed new regulations must submit same to Sharon L. Summers, Planning & Policy Development Unit, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, 1901 North DuPont Highway, P.O. Box 906, New Castle, Delaware 19720-0906 or by fax to 302-255-4425 by November 30, 2010.

The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulation will be based upon the results of Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments and written materials filed by other interested persons.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL

The proposal amends the Delaware Title XIX Medicaid State Plan regarding the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS).

Statutory Authority

Background

Section 3 of the Qualifying Individual (QI) Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008 (the QI Funding Act) amended section 1903(r) of the Social Security Act (the Act) to require that States have eligibility determination systems that provide for data matching through the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) project or any successor system. PARIS is a system for matching data from certain public assistance programs, including State Medicaid programs, with selected Federal and State data for purposes of facilitating appropriate enrollment and retention in public programs. This provision took effect on October 1, 2009.

Based on the provisions of the QI Funding Act, all States are required to sign an agreement to participate in PARIS as a condition of receiving Medicaid funding for automated data systems (including the Medicaid Management Information System). Prior to passage of the QI Funding Act, participation in the PARIS project was voluntary. PARIS is still a voluntary program with respect to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF).

PARIS, a federal and state partnership, is administered by the Department of Health and Human Service's Administration for Children and Families (ACF), which provides all fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico with data to help them maintain program integrity and detect or deter improper payments. PARIS has three components: an interstate match, a match against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and a match against federal civilian and military wage and benefit payments.

State Public Assistance Agencies (SPAAs) enroll in PARIS and sign one or more matching agreements which permit them to participate in quarterly matches of client eligibility and enrollment data files. Under those agreements, in the months of February, May, August, and November of each year, SPAA applicant and recipient data files are transmitted to the Department of Defense (DoD) Manpower Data Center. There, the data files are processed and the results transmitted to participating (SPAAs).

Delaware participates in the Interstate and Veterans Affairs matches.

Summary of Proposal

Federal law requires States to use the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) when determining Medicaid eligibility. On June 21, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) #10-009. This letter provides guidance on implementing the requirements of Section 3 of the QI Funding Act. In order to demonstrate compliance with the new requirements in section 1903 (r) of the Act, the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) will amend its Medicaid State plan to document its participation in PARIS at State plan Section 4.32(c).

The provisions of this amendment are subject to CMS approval.

Fiscal Impact Statement

These revisions impose no increase in cost on the General Fund.

DMMA PROPOSED REGULATION #10-46

REVISION:

Revision: OMB Approval Number:

STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

State: DELAWARE

INCOME AND ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION SYSTEM

435.940 4.32 Income and Eligibility Verification System

through 435.960

FR 5967 (a) The Medicaid agency has established a system for income and eligibility

verification in accordance with the requirements of 42 CFR 435.940 through

435.960. 435.960)

(b) ATTACHMENT 4.32-A describes, in accordance with 42 CFR 435.948(a)(6),

the information that will be requested in order to verify eligibility or the correct

payment amount and the agencies and the State(s) from which that

information will be requested.

(c) The State has an eligibility determination system that provides for data

matching through the Public Assistance Reporting Information System

(PARIS), or any successor system, including matching with medical

assistance programs operated by other States. The information that is

requested will be exchanged with States and other entities legally entitled to

verify title XIX applicants and individuals eligible for covered title XIX services

consistent with applicable PARIS agreements.