TO:	Commissioners; TA & FS Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP/TOP Coordinators; HEAP Coordinators

FROM:	Russell Sykes, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Employment & Transitional Supports

SUBJECT:	WMS Coding for Evacuees of Hurricane Katrina

EFFECTIVE DATE:	Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	Temporary Assistance Bureau @ 1-800-343-8859, ext. 4-9344
	Medicaid Questions – Local District Support Liaison:  Upstate (518) 474-8887; New York City (212) 417-4500	

In the November 1, 2005 GIS message 05 MA/042, both Upstate and Downstate WMS users were advised to continue to use special coding on WMS for applicants who identified themselves as evacuees from Hurricane Katrina although the case processing easements (GIS 05 TA/DC027, GIS 05 TA/DC028) no longer applied effective November 1, 2005.  Upstate WMS users were advised to continue to enter a "J" in the FAP Indicator on Screen 3 for each individual evacuee and use Special Claim Code "J" for Katrina-related pay lines on WMS Screens 6 and 9.  Downstate WMS users were advised to continue to use the case and line level opening code 064 until further notice.  Effective immediately, both Upstate and Downstate WMS users should cease using these special codes for current applicants, including HEAP applicants, who file or have filed an application after February 1, 2006, and who are identified as evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.  If there are districts still processing payments for January 2006 and prior, those districts should continue to use the Special Claim Code “J” for Katrina-related pay lines on WMS Screens 6 and 9 on those payments authorized for periods prior to February 1, 2006 (Downstate WMS users should continue to use the case and line level opening code 064 on these cases).

Upstate System Implications

Current TA, FS and HEAP Case Types affected by the Katrina disaster will remain with a FAP Code "J" and the associated pay line warning, "FAP CODE J INDIV PRESENT" will also remain until an automated cleanup is performed.  MA Case Types will also continue to have an AFA code of 509 until that date.  A subsequent GIS and instructions to the districts will be issued once removal of the Katrina coding has been scheduled. 

Medicaid Implications

GIS message 05 MA/042 advised that for Katrina evacuees who applied for Medicaid-only on or after November 1, 2005:  Upstate users should cease entering the AFA code of 509 which system generated the FAP Indicator of "J"; and Downstate users should cease using case type 21(MPE) and opening code 063.