CHIP
Policy
CHIP
Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2018
A collateral contact is when you contact a third party to verify an eligibility factor. A third party may include medical providers, employers, family members or friends whom the individual has given us permission to contact to validate information. Contact may be made over the phone and properly documented, or by sending a release of information asking for the needed information.
If the individual cannot obtain the verification, suggest other possible sources. Try to help the individual. You may contact an agency, organization, or other people by telephone, letter, or in person to get verification. These other sources of verification are called collateral contacts.
Some collateral contacts may be made without permission from the enrollee, but they should be told that the contact will be made.
A collateral contact with an employer must include the employer or business name, the phone number and the name of the individual who was contacted and the date of contact.
An employer may verify wage information, frequency of pay.
A collateral contact with some other entity or person who is providing income to the individual must document similar information about the source, amount and frequency.
Get written permission from the enrollee before contacting State or Federally chartered financial institutions about financial transactions or other information about the individual's financial condition. Use the form 114 Authorization to Release Information and Release from Liability.
If the enrollee refuses to get the needed verification from collateral sources or refuses to consent to collateral contact, deny or close the case.