REGULATIONS
Vol. 34 Iss. 19 - May 14, 2018

TITLE 12. HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Chapter 110
Final Regulation

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The following regulatory action is exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 4 c of the Code of Virginia, which excludes regulations that are necessary to meet the requirements of federal law or regulations, provided such regulations do not differ materially from those required by federal law or regulation. The Department of Medical Assistance Services will receive, consider, and respond to petitions by any interested person at any time with respect to reconsideration or revision.

Titles of Regulations: 12VAC30-30. Groups Covered and Agencies Responsible for Eligibility Determination (amending 12VAC30-30-10).

12VAC30-110. Eligibility and Appeals (amending 12VAC30-110-1620).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396.

Effective Date: June 15, 2018.

Agency Contact: Emily McClellan, Regulatory Supervisor, Policy Division, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-4300, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email emily.mcclellan@dmas.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments relocate provisions regarding coverage for former out-of-state foster care youth from the State Plan for Medical Assistance, where it was established, into the state only regulations at 12VAC30-110-1260 because of a determination by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that this coverage is permitted under a § 1115 waiver. This action does not represent a change in coverage, and former out-of-state foster care youth will continue to be eligible for Medicaid coverage as they have been since July 1, 2014.

12VAC30-30-10. Mandatory coverage: categorically needy and other required special groups.

The Title IV-A agency or the Department of Medical Assistance Services Central Processing Unit determines eligibility for Title XIX services. The following groups shall be eligible for medical assistance as specified:

1. Parents and other caretaker relatives of dependent children with household income at or below a standard established by the state in 12VAC30-40-100 consistent with 42 CFR 435.110 and §§ 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(l) and 1931(b) of the Social Security Act. Individuals qualifying under this eligibility group shall meet the following criteria:

a. Parents, other caretaker relatives (defined at 42 CFR 435.4) including pregnant women, or dependent children (defined at 42 CFR 435.4) younger than the age of 18 years. This group includes individuals who are parents or other caretaker relatives of children who are 18 years of age provided the children are full-time students in a secondary school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training and are expected to complete such school or training before their 19th birthday.

b. Spouses of parents and other caretaker relatives shall include other relatives of the child based on blood (including those of half-blood), adoption, or marriage. Other relatives of a specified degree of the dependent child shall include any blood relative (including those of half-blood) and including (i) first cousins; (ii) nephews or nieces; (iii) persons of preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand, great, or great-great; (iv) stepbrother; (v) stepsister; (vi) a relative by adoption following entry of the interlocutory or final order, whichever is first; (vii) the same relatives by adoption as listed in this subdivision 1 b; and (viii) spouses of any persons named in this subdivision 1 b even after the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

MAGI-based income methodologies in 12VAC30-40-100 shall be used in calculating household income.

2. Women who are pregnant or postpartum with household income at or below a standard established by the Commonwealth in 12VAC30-40-100, consistent with 42 CFR 435.116 and §§ 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(III) and (IV), 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I) and (IX), and 1931(b) of the Act. Individuals qualifying under this eligibility group shall be pregnant or postpartum as defined in 42 CFR 435.4.

a. A woman who, while pregnant, was eligible for, applied for, and received Medicaid under the approved state plan on the day her pregnancy ends. The woman continues to be eligible, as though she were pregnant, for all pregnancy-related and postpartum medical assistance under the plan for a 60-day period, beginning on the last day of her pregnancy, and for any remaining days in the month in which the 60th day falls.

b. A pregnant woman who would otherwise lose eligibility because of an increase in income of the family in which she is a member during the pregnancy or the postpartum period that extends through the end of the month in which the 60-day period, beginning on the last day of pregnancy, ends.

MAGI-based income methodologies in 12VAC30-40-100 shall be used in calculating household income.

3. Infants and children younger than the age of 19 years with household income at or below standards based on this age group, consistent with 42 CFR 435.118 and §§ 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(III), (IV) and (VIII); 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(IV) and (IX); and 1931(b) of the Act. Children qualifying under this eligibility group shall meet the following criteria:

a. They are younger than the age of 19 years; and

b. They have a household income at or below the standard established by the Commonwealth.

MAGI-based income methodologies in 12VAC30-40-100 shall be used in calculating household income.

4. Former foster care children younger than the age of 26 years who are not otherwise mandatorily eligible in another Medicaid classification, who were on Medicaid and in foster care when they turned age 18 years, or who aged out of foster care. Individuals qualifying under this eligibility group shall meet the following criteria:

a. They shall be younger than the age of 26 years;

b. They shall not be otherwise eligible for and enrolled for mandatory coverage under the state plan; and

c. They were in foster care under the responsibility of any the state of Virginia or a federally recognized tribe and were enrolled in Virginia Medicaid under the state plan of that state when they turned age 18 years or at the time of aging out of the foster care program.

5. Families terminated from coverage under § 1931 of the Act solely because of earnings or hours of employment shall be entitled to up to 12 months of extended benefits in accordance with § 1925 of the Act.

6. A child born to a woman who is eligible for and receiving Medicaid on the date of the child's birth. The child is deemed to have applied and been found eligible for Medicaid on the date of birth and remains eligible for one year from birth, as long as he remains a resident of the Commonwealth. A redetermination of eligibility must be completed on behalf of the deemed child at age one year and annually thereafter so long as he remains eligible.

7. Aged, blind, and disabled individuals receiving cash assistance.

a. Individuals who meet more restrictive requirements for Medicaid than the SSI requirements. (This includes persons who qualify for benefits under § 1619(a) of the Act or who meet the eligibility requirements for SSI status under § 1619(b)(1) of the Act and who met the state's more restrictive requirements for Medicaid in the month before the month they qualified for SSI under § 1619(a) or met the requirements under § 1619(b)(1) of the Act. Medicaid eligibility for these individuals continues as long as they continue to meet the § 1619(a) eligibility standard or the requirements of § 1619(b) of the Act.)

b. These persons include the aged, the blind, and the disabled.

c. Protected SSI children (pursuant to § 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(II) of the Act) (P.L. 105-33 § 4913). Children who meet the pre-welfare reform definition of childhood disability who lost their SSI coverage solely as a result of the change in the definition of childhood disability, and who also meet the more restrictive requirements for Medicaid than the SSI requirements.

d. The more restrictive categorical eligibility criteria are described in 12VAC30-30-40.

Financial criteria are described in 12VAC30-40-10.

8. Qualified severely impaired blind and disabled individuals under age 65 years who:

a. For the month preceding the first month of eligibility under the requirements of § 1905(q)(2) of the Act, received SSI, a state supplementary payment (SSP) under § 1616 of the Act or under § 212 of P.L. 93-66 or benefits under § 1619(a) of the Act and were eligible for Medicaid; or

b. For the month of June 1987, were considered to be receiving SSI under § 1619(b) of the Act and were eligible for Medicaid. These individuals must:

(1) Continue to meet the criteria for blindness or have the disabling physical or mental impairment under which the individual was found to be disabled;

(2) Except for earnings, continue to meet all nondisability-related requirements for eligibility for SSI benefits;

(3) Have unearned income in amounts that would not cause them to be ineligible for a payment under § 1611(b) of the Act;

(4) Be seriously inhibited by the lack of Medicaid coverage in their ability to continue to work or obtain employment; and

(5) Have earnings that are not sufficient to provide for himself a reasonable equivalent of the Medicaid, SSI (including any federally administered SSP), or public funded attendant care services that would be available if he did have such earnings.

The state applies more restrictive eligibility requirements for Medicaid than under SSI and under 42 CFR 435.121. Individuals who qualify for benefits under § 1619(a) of the Act or individuals described above who meet the eligibility requirements for SSI benefits under § 1619(b)(1) of the Act and who met the state's more restrictive requirements in the month before the month they qualified for SSI under § 1619(a) or met the requirements of § 1619(b)(1) of the Act are covered. Eligibility for these individuals continues as long as they continue to qualify for benefits under § 1619(a) of the Act or meet the SSI requirements under § 1619(b)(1) of the Act.

9. Except in states that apply more restrictive requirements for Medicaid than under SSI, blind or disabled individuals who:

a. Are at least 18 years of age; and

b. Lose SSI eligibility because they become entitled to Old Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) child's benefits under § 202(d) of the Act or an increase in these benefits based on their disability. Medicaid eligibility for these individuals continues for as long as they would be eligible for SSI, absence their OASDI eligibility.

The state does not apply more restrictive income eligibility requirements than those under SSI.

10. Except in states that apply more restrictive eligibility requirements for Medicaid than under SSI, individuals who are ineligible for SSI or optional state supplements (if the agency provides Medicaid under § 435.230 of the Act), because of requirements that do not apply under Title XIX of the Act.

11. Individuals receiving mandatory state supplements.

12. Individuals who in December 1973 were eligible for Medicaid as an essential spouse and who have continued, as a spouse, to live with and be essential to the well-being of a recipient of cash assistance. The recipient with whom the essential spouse is living continues to meet the December 1973 eligibility requirements of the state's approved plan for Old Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled, or Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled and the spouse continues to meet the December 1973 requirements for have his needs included in computing the cash payment. In December 1973, Medicaid coverage of the essential spouse was limited to the aged, the blind, and the disabled.

13. Institutionalized individuals who were eligible for Medicaid in December 1973 as inpatients of Title XIX medical institutions or residents of Title XIX intermediate care facilities, if, for each consecutive month after December 1973, they:

a. Continue to meet the December 1973 Medicaid State Plan eligibility requirements;

b. Remain institutionalized; and

c. Continue to need institutional care.

14. Blind and disabled individuals who:

a. Meet all current requirements for Medicaid eligibility except the blindness or disability criteria;

b. Were eligible for Medicaid in December 1973 as blind or disabled; and

c. For each consecutive month after December 1973 continue to meet December 1973 eligibility criteria.

15. Individuals who would be SSI/SSP eligible except for the increase in OASDI benefits under P.L. 92-336 (July 1, 1972), who were entitled to OASDI in August 1972, and who were receiving cash assistance in August 1972. This includes persons who would have been eligible for cash assistance but had not applied in August 1972 (this group was included in this state's August 1972 plan), and persons who would have been eligible for cash assistance in August 1972 if not in a medical institution or intermediate care facility (this group was included in this state's August 1972 plan).

16. Individuals who:

a. Are receiving OASDI and were receiving SSI/SSP but became ineligible for SSI/SSP after April 1977; and

b. Would still be eligible for SSI or SSP if cost-of-living increases in OASDI paid under § 215(i) of the Act received after the last month for which the individual was eligible for and received SSI/SSP and OASDI, concurrently, were deducted from income.

The state applies more restrictive eligibility requirements than those under SSI and the amount of increase that caused SSI/SSP ineligibility and subsequent increases are deducted when determining the amount of countable income for categorically needy eligibility.

17. Disabled widows and widowers who would be eligible for SSI or SSP except for the increase in their OASDI benefits as a result of the elimination of the reduction factor required by § 134 of P.L. 98-21 and who are deemed, for purposes of Title XIX, to be SSI beneficiaries or SSP beneficiaries for individuals who would be eligible for SSP only, under § 1634(b) of the Act.

The state does not apply more restrictive income eligibility standards than those under SSI.

18. Disabled widows, disabled widowers, and disabled unmarried divorced spouses who had been married to the insured individual for a period of at least 10 years before the divorce became effective, who have attained the age of 50, who are receiving Title II payments, and who because of the receipt of Title II income lost eligibility for SSI or SSP which they received in the month prior to the month in which they began to receive Title II payments, who would be eligible for SSI or SSP if the amount of the Title II benefit were not counted as income, and who are not entitled to Medicare Part A.

The state applies more restrictive eligibility requirements for its blind or disabled than those of the SSI program.

19. Qualified Medicare beneficiaries:

a. Who are entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare Part A (but not pursuant to an enrollment under § 1818 of the Act);

b. Whose income does not exceed 100% of the federal level; and

c. Whose resources do not exceed twice the maximum standard under SSI or, effective January 1, 2010, the resource limit set for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy Program.

Medical assistance for this group is limited to Medicare cost sharing as defined in item 3.2 of this plan.

20. Qualified disabled and working individuals:

a. Who are entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare Part A under § 1818A of the Act;

b. Whose income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level;

c. Whose resources do not exceed twice the maximum standard under SSI; and

d. Who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under Title XIX of the Act.

Medical assistance for this group is limited to Medicare Part A premiums under §§ 1818 and 1818A of the Act.

21. Specified low-income Medicare beneficiaries:

a. Who are entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare Part A (but not pursuant to an enrollment under § 1818A of the Act);

b. Whose income for calendar years 1993 and 1994 exceeds the income level in subdivision 25 b of this section, but is less than 110% of the federal poverty level, and whose income for calendar years beginning 1995 is less than 120% of the federal poverty level; and

c. Whose resources do not exceed twice the maximum standard under SSI or, effective January 1, 2010, the resource limit set for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy Program.

Medical assistance for this group is limited to Medicare Part B premiums under § 1839 of the Act.

22. a. Each person to whom SSI benefits by reason of disability are not payable for any month solely by reason of clause (i) or (v) of § 1611(e)(3)(A) shall be treated, for purposes of Title XIX, as receiving SSI benefits for the month.

b. The state applies more restrictive eligibility standards than those under SSI. Individuals whose eligibility for SSI benefits are based solely on disability who are not payable for any months solely by reason of clause (i) or (v) of § 1611(e)(3)(A) and who continue to meet the more restrictive requirements for Medicaid eligibility under the state plan, are eligible for Medicaid as categorically needy.

12VAC30-110-1620. (Reserved) Coverage of former foster care youth.

A. The Title IV-A agency or the Department of Medical Assistance Services Central Processing Unit determines eligibility for Title XIX services.

B. Former foster care children younger than the age of 26 years who are not otherwise mandatorily eligible in another Medicaid classification and who were on Medicaid and in foster care when they turned age 18 years or aged out of foster care are eligible for medical assistance as specified. Individuals qualifying under this eligibility group shall meet the following criteria:

1. They shall be younger than the age of 26 years;

2. They shall not be otherwise eligible for or enrolled in mandatory coverage under the state plan; and

3. They were in foster care in a state other than Virginia and were enrolled in Medicaid under the state plan of that state when they turned age 18 years or at the time of aging out of the foster care program.

VA.R. Doc. No. R18-5377; Filed April 12, 2018, 11:20 a.m.