Account Validation Service (AVS)

Starting September 1, 2019, people who are age 65 or older, blind or who have a disability must authorize use of the Account Validation Service (AVS) to be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA), including MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD), or the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). This requirement only applies to people who have an asset test. This requirement does not apply to children under age 21.

Federal law requires all states to use an AVS and for Medicaid applicants and enrollees to authorize the use of the system to qualify for and maintain Medicaid coverage. The AVS is a tool to identify potentially unreported financial accounts.

The following questions and answers give more information for MA, MA-EPD and MSP applicants and enrollees who must authorize the use of AVS.

I want to apply for MA, MA-EPD or MSP, do I need to authorize use of the AVS?

When you apply for MA, MA-EPD or MSP on or after September 1, 2019, the state, county or tribal worker will determine if you need to authorize use of the AVS. If so, the worker will send you a request and an authorization form to complete. Return the completed form by the date the worker requests it, so he or she can determine your MA, MA-EPD or MSP eligibility.
I am enrolled in MA, MA-EPD or MSP, do I need to authorize use of the AVS?
I got a request and AVS authorization form in the mail, what do I need to do?
The AVS authorization form has places for my spouse and sponsor to sign. Do I need their signatures?
If you have a spouse who is living with you, he or she must sign the form, unless you are:
- Enrolled in MA-EPD
- Receiving services through the Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access Disability Inclusion (CADI) or Developmental Disability (DD) waiver program.
If you have a spouse and you are applying for MA for payment of long-term care facility services (such as a nursing home) or the Elderly Waiver (EW), your spouse must also sign the form.

If you have a sponsor who signed an Affidavit of Support (USCIS I-864) as a condition of you or your spouse’s entry to the United States, the sponsor must sign the form. If your sponsor has a spouse, their spouse must also sign the form.

Ask your financial worker at the county or tribal agency if you aren’t sure whether your spouse or sponsor(s) should sign the form.
What will happen if I don’t complete the form?
I need more time to complete the form, what can I do?
I got a Health Care Notice of Action saying my coverage will close, because I didn’t authorize use of the AVS. Now what?
Your coverage can be reinstated if you return the form before the closing date listed on the notice.

Contact your county or tribal agency at the phone number listed on the request cover letter if you already turned in your form, but your coverage closed. If you are unable to reach a worker at that number, you may call the DHS Health Care Consumer Support line at 651-297-3862 or 800-657-3672.

You will need to reapply for MA, MA-EPD or MSP if the county or tribal agency does not receive your authorization by the closing date. If this happens, you must complete a new application, including completing the AVS authorization form, and submit it to the county or tribal agency. Find out:
- How to apply for people with disabilities
- How to apply if you are 65 years old or older
I have more questions, where can I get more information?
I’m not sure if I’m enrolled in MA, MA-EPD or MSP, how do I find out?