Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Medicaid Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mitchell County DSS reports successful state audit; new Medicaid 'work requirement' could increase caseload work
Summary
DSS staff said a recent state audit of Medicaid casework found near-perfect accuracy after corrections, but warned a state-imposed work requirement taking effect in 2027 will require more frequent recertifications and could increase terminations and staff workload.
Mitchell County Department of Social Services staff told the county during its regular meeting that a recent state audit of the county’s Medicaid unit found high accuracy after county rebuttals and corrections.
Speaker 2 said the state reviewed roughly 180 cases over a nine-month span and that "For application approvals, we had 99% accuracy rate" and that, after submitting rebuttals and corrections, approval and denial actions were adjusted to 100% with technical errors at 99%. Speaker 2 said the county received no paybacks and no corrective action from the audit.
The presentation included a warning about a forthcoming state policy change: Speaker 2 described a Medicaid "work requirement" affecting adults ages 19 to 64 and said the policy—discussed at the state level—will require recipients to engage in work, community service or a work program totaling roughly 80 hours per month to remain eligible. Speaker 2 said the new rule will also require caseworkers to touch and reevaluate affected cases every six months instead of the current annual recertification.
Speaker 2 highlighted the local staffing context: the unit currently averages about 500 cases across five caseworkers and serves roughly 4,000 people on Medicaid, and staff turnover and hiring freezes complicate capacity. "And right now, our case our caseworkers are averaging close to 500 cases," Speaker 2 said, adding the additional reviews and contacts will raise workload demands.
Speaker 1 and other board members asked for comparisons to neighboring counties and for the county to stay engaged with state calls and training. Speaker 2 said the county is participating in state monthly calls and will update the board as policy details and exemptions are released.
The board did not take formal action on the policy at the meeting; staff said they will continue planning for outreach and training ahead of the change.
