Probation Department Policy/Procedure Manual

4.2 Medi-Cal Status Notification for In-Custody Youth

Location Juvenile Services - Clerical
Section N/A
Subject 4.2 Medi-Cal Status Notification for In-Custody Youth
Purpose Establish a procedure to ensure required notifications are made to the county welfare department, when a ward of the court is committed to Juvenile Hall or the Coastal Valley academy for thirty (30) d
Effective Date 12/1/2020
Previous Effective Date 11/1/2022

 

OVERVIEW

WIC 14029.5 requires the Probation Department to provide specific information to the county welfare department following a court ordered commitment of 30 days or longer of a ward of the county in order determine Medi-Cal eligibility following release. 

If the ward is a minor, it also requires written notification to the ward’s parent/legal guardian of the intent to submit this information to the county welfare department as well as an opportunity to opt out of this eligibility determination.  

PROCEDURE

  1. A Juvenile Division Legal Clerk (LC) will be assigned to track which youth have been in custody, or will be in custody for 30 days or longer at Juvenile Hall (JH) or the Coastal Valley Academy (CVA). An automatic email notification will be sent to the PR_Juv_Legal_Clerks email list when a youth has been in custody for 30 days or more.  (Note: The email notification will stop once the LC creates a Medi-Cal Eligibility Information Form in the booking event in Monitor associated with the youth’s current incarceration.) .
  2. If a youth has been in custody or will be in custody 30 days, the LC will review the case to determine the following:
    1. Is the youth a ward of the court?
    2. Is the youth under 18 years of age?
    3. Has the youth been to a disposition hearing ordering a custody commitment to Juvenile Hall or the Coastal Valley Academy for 30 days or longer?
  3. If the youth is a ward of the court, is under age 18 and has been to a disposition hearing ordering a custody commitment of 30 days or longer, the LC will do the following:
    1. Complete a Medi-Cal Parent Notification Letter in the booking event associated with the commitment in Monitor and send the letter(s) to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the youth.
    2. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) respond to the letter within 30 days and object to a Medi-Cal eligibility notice being sent to the Department of Social Services (DSS), the LC will make a journal note, in the booking event associated with the commitment in Monitor, indicating this objection and no further action will be taken.
    3. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) does not respond to the letter objecting to a Medi-Cal eligibility notice being sent to the DSS, LC will complete a Medi-Cal Eligibility Information Form in the booking event associated with the commitment in Monitor. The LC will forward the completed form to the Foster Care Program Review Specialist and copy the Foster Care Employment Services Supervisor and Foster Care Program Manager. 
  4. If the youth is a ward of the court, is over age 18 and has been to a disposition hearing ordering a custody commitment of 30 days or longer, the LC will do the following:
    1. Complete a Medi-Cal Eligibility Information Form, in the booking event associated with the commitment in Monitor, and forward the form to the Foster Care Program Review Specialist and copy the Foster Care Employment Services Supervisor and Foster Care Program Manager.
  5. If the youth is not a ward of the court or has not been to a disposition hearing ordering a custody commitment of 30 days or longer, the LC will monitor the case further until the youth is released from custody.  If the youth still does not meet these criteria at the time of release, no further action is needed.  If the youth’s status changes and he/she does meet the above two criteria at or prior to release, the LC will proceed according to #3 or #4 above, depending on age.
  6. If the youth has been to a disposition hearing and remains in-custody pending foster care placement (detention status = post disposition awaiting placement), they are exempt from this procedure; however, an MC-250 form should be completed, in the booking event associated with the commitment in Monitor, and forwarded to the Foster Care Program Review Specialist and copy the Foster Care Employment Services Supervisor and Foster Care Program Manager. The LC shall also forward a copy of the MC-250 form to Behavioral Health staff at Juvenile Hall.