An absent parent (AP) whose child receives Medicaid due to the parent's failure to provide medical insurance is considered to have incurred a debt to the state.

The eligibility case manager will refer the AP to DCSS. DCSS will then attempt to locate the AP and arrange for him or her to obtain medical coverage for the child.

As part of this effort, the A/R must agree to provide information about the AP to DCSS, unless good cause exists. Further, all members of the AU must cooperate with both the DFCS case manager and DCSS by providing information about the AP.

For Medicaid cases, DCSS will attempt to:

locate the AP
establish paternity/maternity
collect child support payments and obtain medical support for the children receiving Medicaid
review the agency's good cause decisions

Procedures
Provide the following information to the A/R at application, at review, and when adding a child to the AU:

An explanation of the child support program
An assignment to the state of child support and/or medical support
The requirement to cooperate with DCSS and the consequences of non-cooperation
The A/R's right to claim good cause at any time

At application, review, and when adding a child, go over Form 138 with the A/R and have him or her sign it. Give the A/R a copy and place another copy in the case record. Section 2250 of the policy manual has more information.

Exceptions

The following APs are not referred to DCSS:

The AP(s) of RSM children
The AP(s) of an 18 year-old receiving Medicaid as a dependent child
An AP who has health insurance on a child in a Medicaid case
The AP(s) of a married minor

The following A/Rs are not required to cooperate with DCSS:

Transitional Medical Assistance recipients
Mothers of children receiving Deemed Newborn

Dependent children applying for Medicaid on their own behalf are not penalized for not cooperating with DCSS, although the APs are referred to DCSS.