You are on this page: The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) is a compact between 49 states, the District of Colombia and Puerto Rico. New York became an Associate Member of this compact in 2006.
ICAMA is the mechanism used to coordinate health care in interstate adoption cases. Interstate cooperation is essential in light of the ever increasing numbers of children placed for adoption across state lines and for families with adopted children relocating outside of the state from which they receive adoption assistance.
An ICAMA request notifies the receiving state that a child in receipt of adoption assistance is moving into their state. The request provides the required documentation for the receiving state to determine the child’s eligibility for Medicaid based on the child’s receipt of adoption subsidy. If the child is eligible for Medicaid, the receiving state will begin the process of opening Medicaid for that child. Medicaid programs differ in each state. Benefits and coverage may vary.
Information for Adoptive Parents Moving Across State Lines
If your child is in receipt of a New York State adoption subsidy and you plan to move out of state you should take the following step:
- Contact the caseworker or Adoption Supervisor of the local department of social services (LDSS) which issues the adoption subsidy payment to notify them of your plans to move out of state and discuss with them initiating the ICAMA process.
Lists of LDSS contacts can be found at ocfs.ny.gov/adopt/public-agencies.
It is the responsibility of the adoptive parent to provide the LDSS with a copy of the approved/signed adoption subsidy agreement, the child’s current name, birth certificate, child’s valid Social Security number, child’s race and ethnicity, adoptive parent’s race and ethnicity, current address and phone, address in the new state of residence and phone, and the anticipated date child will arrive in the new state of residence.
If your child is in receipt of adoption subsidy from outside of New York State and you plan to move into New York State you should take the following step:
- Contact your adoption caseworker in the state which issues the adoption subsidy payment and discuss with them how to begin the ICAMA process.
Information for NYS Caseworkers
Specific documents must be included in each ICAMA request. An Informational Letter issued by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provides information on the process.
ICAMA Forms can be found on the AAICAMA website including:
- ICAMA Form 6.01 - Notice of Medicaid Eligibility/Case Activation
- ICAMA Form 6.03 - Report of Change in Child/Family Status
LDSS caseworkers complete and submit ICAMA packets to:
NYS OCFS-ICAMA Unit
Room 331 North Building
52 Washington Street
Rensselaer, NY 12144
If you have questions, feel free to contact your New York State ICAMA Compact Administrator at 518-474-9406.
For additional ICAMA information including frequently asked questions, state pages or to view the full Compact text go to: http://www.aaicama.org/cms/