Reciprocity provision:  A child is eligible for federal Medicaid coverage nationwide based upon the child’s receipt of Adoption Subsidy through a state which is a member of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA);

When a family plans to move away from the state which granted the Adoption Subsidy Agreement, the child’s Adoption Subsidy worker in that state should be notified by the parents regarding the moving date;

The Adoption Subsidy worker should inform the family that Medicaid through ICAMA will be handled by the worker and the ICAMA Coordinators in the sending and receiving states. Families should not contact the local family support office in the state to which they are moving, as this office is not able to open Medicaid coverage thru ICAMA;

The Adoption Subsidy worker then contacts his/her ICAMA Coordinator in the worker’s state in order to initiate the process of continuing Medicaid coverage in the planned state of residence. The ICAMA Coordinator will work with the adoption subsidy worker to gather required information and update the Alternative Care Client form, SS-61, for the child;

The ICAMA Coordinators from the current state of residence and the planned state of residence will exchange required information in order to complete the Medicaid transfer between states;

The state which carries the subsidy agreement with the family is always the responsible state for the ICAMA information-sharing throughout the length of the subsidy (no matter how many times the family moves, the original subsidy state shares information with the most current state of residence);

The state which carries the adoption subsidy agreement will always be responsible for payment of the maintenance to the family, and the state of residence will be the state which is responsible for Medicaid coverage.

If there are questions or concerns throughout this process, please contact your ICAMA Coordinator in Central Office.

Related Practice Alerts and Memos:

7-1-19 – CD19-52 – FY20 Rate Increases

12-4-19 – PA19-AD-06 – Transitional Living Placements and Subsidy Agreements

1-10-20 – PA20-AD-01 – Legal Fees for AD and LG Subsidies

10-29-2020 – PA20-AD-06 – Child Summary

01-13-21 –CD-21-01 -Contractors Negotiation/Completion Of The Initial Adoption Or Legal Guardianship Subsidy Agreement