ALJ John P. Tedesco

DHA Case No. CWA 210997 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 17, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF It is the guardian’s responsibility to complete a Medicaid renewal and to keep DHS informed when circumstances change. In this case, the petitioner changed guardians but neither guardian informed the agency, which then sent the renewal notices […] Read more

DHA Case No. FCP 211106 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 23, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An individual is functionally eligible for Family Care if he or she needs a “nursing home” level of care, as determined by the functional screen—but occasionally the screening program is wrong. In this case, the petitioner used […] Read more

DHA Case No. FCP 210267 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 25, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Supportive Home Care (SHC) can be a benefit provided through Family Care when the member needs assistance with chores. In this case, Inclusa sought to end the petitioner’s SHC, claiming vaguely that “petitioner may be able to […] Read more

DHA Case No. FCP 210269 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 26, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Non-medical transportation can be a benefit provided through Family Care when the member needs assistance with transportation. In this case, Inclusa sought to end the petitioner’s non-medical transportation, claiming vaguely that “petitioner may be able to walk […] Read more

DHA Case No. MPA 208980 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals November 9, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Wisconsin Medicaid covers gender-affirming medical and surgical treatments when medically necessary. In this case, the petitioner sought a prior authorization for six sessions of laser hair removal from the face as part of gender-affirming care. The Department […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 208908 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals October 27, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF In this brief case, the petitioner appealed the termination of her IRIS benefits due to losing functional eligibility. Because she did not appear at the hearing, ALJ John Tedesco dismissed the case and the IRIS termination was […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 209934 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals November 13, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Collectibles acquired or held because of their value as an investment are countable assets. In this case, the petitioner owned sports memorabilia worth about $35,000 but argued the collection was (1) unavailable due to the time it […] Read more

DHA Case No. FCP 189482 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals February 27, 2019) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF To be covered under Family Care, a service must be cost-effective. In this case, the MCO denied the petitioner’s request to install an ADA-height elongated toilet in his rented apartment, saying there were less costly alternatives. ALJ […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 189840 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 24, 2019) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF IRIS can pay for a participant-hired worker to attend a conference as a “Community Integration Event” if the participant is also attending. In this case, the petitioner’s mother attended a Fragile X conference alone; she apparently was […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 189467 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 3, 2019) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The IRIS program cannot cover nursing services that are already covered by the state Medicaid plan. In this case, the petitioner’s IRIS supportive home care (SHC) hours were reduced from 96 hours per week to 40 hours […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 208350 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals September 19, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The IRIS program can cover “individual directed goods and services” that are not covered under another service category and not obtainable from another source. In this case, the petitioner somehow had IRIS paying for food from vendors […] Read more

DHA Case No. FCP 207851 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals August 31, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An MCO must determine whether a requested service is medically necessary and cost-effective. But in this case, the petitioner’s mother and guardian refused to cooperate with the MCO’s attempts to get the information it needed to make […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 208804 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals September 8, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The Medicaid Eligibility Handbook counts some income even though it is unavailable—garnishments, for example. In this case, the petitioner had $300 garnished monthly for a tax debt but his patient liability was not reduced to compensate. ALJ John Tedesco […] Read more

DHA Case No. CWA 208193 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals October 2, 2023) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF When DHS increases a member’s cost share, it has the burden of proof on appeal. In this rather messy case, it was clear that the cost share should have been lower but it was not clear whose […] Read more