The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“CV Response Act”) was signed into law on March 18, 2020.  The CV Response Act bars all Medicaid terminations during the course of the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. All individuals enrolled in Medicaid as of March 2020 must have continued benefits, until the last day of the month in which the public health emergency is officially ended.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is attached hereto:

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In order to implement the CV Response Act, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, New Jersey’s state-wide Medicaid agency, established the following guidance in making Medicaid eligibility determinations during the COVID-19 Emergency:

1. New Jersey Medicaid will not terminate any cases during the period of the COVID emergency. Any cases that should be terminated during the emergency will be renewed until the public health emergency is officially ended.
2. Fair Hearings and Fair Hearing decisions which should be issued during the COVID-19 crisis will be delayed. The time limits found in 42 CFR § 431.244 will be waived until the last day of the month in which the emergency officially ends.
3. The Medicaid agency must accept the applicant’s self- attestation of income when the agency is unable to verify income.
4. The Medicaid agency must accept the applicant’s self-attestation of resources when the agency is unable to verify resources.
5. To be eligible for Medicaid, an applicant must usually first meet both the financial and medical standards of the program. However, during the public emergency, once the Medicaid agency finds that an applicant meets the financial eligibility standards, the applicant may be found eligible for Medicaid benefits without verifying that the medical standards of the program have been met by the applicant.
6. Federal stimulus payments of $1200 received by Medicaid beneficiaries will not be included in countable income and resource calculations in determining eligibility. The stimulus payments will continue to be an excluded resource for an additional 12 months.
7. Federal emergency increases in unemployment insurance payments of $600 per week must be disregarded when determining Medicaid eligibility.
8. Beneficiaries enrolled in the NJ WorkAbility Medicaid program will not lose eligibility if they temporarily lose their employment during the COVID-19 emergency.
9. Processing of both renewal applications and actions on changed circumstances affecting Medicaid eligibility shall be delayed during the pandemic crisis. The Medicaid agency will focus available staff time on processing new applications during the period of the COVID emergency.

New Jersey Medicaid’s Guidance for Eligibility Determining Agencies During the COVID-19 Emergency is attached here –

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For additional information concerning Medicaid applications and appeals, visit:

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