The Family and Children’s Medicaid Section currently employs 29 caseworkers, 1 lead worker and 4 supervisors. There are 11 employees in the Intake Unit, 17 in the ongoing unit and 1 out posted worker. The primary goal of our department is to determine eligibility in various public assistance programs, for families and their children, who are uninsured or underinsured. The duties include interviewing clients, processing applications, compiling financial data and verifying information. We work very hard to ensure that every eligible person receives the benefits to which they are entitled to in order that they can have access to the medical care they require.
Food and Nutrition Services Section employs 25 caseworkers, a lead worker and 3 supervisors. 10 caseworkers process applications (Intake) and 15 maintain ongoing caseloads. Food and Nutrition Services helps people with low income or no income buy nutritious food. There are limits on a household’s allowable income and resources. Benefits vary, based on several factors, such as income, shelter costs and the number of individuals in the home who purchase and prepare food together. Applications may be filed in person, by mail or fax. An interview is always conducted with an applicant or his/her authorized representative. Caseworkers verify and document recipient information, determine eligibility, compute allotments and deliver benefits in a timely manner. Food and Nutrition Services helps families stretch their dollars at the grocery store and allows families to eat a variety of healthy food.
The Child Care Subsidy Section consists of 5 case managers and 1 supervisor. The objective of this unit is to assist with child care expenses for families earning no more than 75% of the state’s median income. Applicants must be working, in school, have a child who has been identified with developmental needs or a family in crisis. Duties for a child care case managers is to determine eligibility for these services by interviewing the client, calculating parent’s income, and assessing the amount of the parent fee and the plan of care. The workers keep in close contact with the parents to assure continued eligibility. The case managers also communicate with the child care provider to provide quality child care for the children in New Hanover County.
The Adult Medicaid Section currently employs 17 caseworkers, 1 lead worker and 2 supervisors. The unit is broken down into three specialized units; five workers who take applications on clients living in the community, seven workers who maintain those approved cases, six workers who take applications and maintain cases for clients who are applying for Nursing Home, Rest Home, the Community Alternatives Program and the PACE Program, and one outposted worker. Duties include interviewing clients or representatives, verifying information, completing disability forms, budgeting, assessing for transfer of assets, and authorizing benefits. Our primary goal is to provide medical care for the elderly, people who are blind or disabled, and people who need help with rest home costs and nursing home costs.