Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 04-18-068.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-408-0055 Medical assistance units.

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E., and Alhadeff Lane, behind Goodyear Tire, a map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6097), on August 23, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than August 24, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., August 23, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by August 19, 2005, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6097 or by e-mail at schilse@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed changes are technical corrections. The rule text is being reorganized to make it clearer that an SSI-related person who is not found eligible for Medicaid under this rule may be eligible under the SSI-related rules found in chapter 388-575 WAC.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed changes and corrections will reduce the possibility of misunderstanding the intent of the rule.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.09.530.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.09.530.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Joanie Scotson, P.O. Box 45535, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, (360) 725-1330.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. There is no impact on small business.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Client eligibility rules for medical programs are exempt under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).

July 8, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (2) Financial responsibility applies only to spouses and to parents, as follows:

     (a) Married persons, living together are financially responsible for each other;

     (b) ((Parents)) Persons who meet the definition of a natural, adoptive, or step-parent described in WAC 388-454-0010 are financially responsible for their unmarried, minor children living in the same household; and

     (c) ((A parent's financial responsibility is limited when their minor child is receiving inpatient chemical dependency or mental health treatment. Only the income a parent chooses to contribute to the child is considered available when:

     (i) The treatment is expected to last ninety days or more;

     (ii) The child is in court-ordered out-of-home care in accordance with chapter 13.34 RCW; or

     (iii) The department determines the parents are not exercising responsibility for the care and control of the child.))

     (((d))) Minor children are not financially responsible for their parents or for their siblings.

     (((2) Certain situations require the establishment of)) (3) When determining eligibility for family, pregnancy, or children's medical programs, separate MAUs are required for ((some)) family members living in the same household((. Separate MAUs are established for)) in the following situations:

     (a) A pregnant minor, regardless of whether she lives with her parent(s);

     (b) A child with earned or unearned income;

     (c) A child with resources which make((s)) another family member ineligible for medical assistance;

     (d) A child of unmarried parents when both parents reside with the child;

     (e) Each unmarried parent of a child in common, plus any of their children who are not in separate MAUs;

     (f) A caretaker relative that is not financially responsible for the support of the child;

     (((g) SSI recipients or SSI-related persons from the non-SSI related family members;

     (h) The purpose of applying medical income standards for an:

     (i) SSI-related applicant whose spouse is not relatable to SSI or is not applying for SSI-related medical; and

     (ii) Ineligible spouse of an SSI-recipient.))

     (4) For a family with multiple MAUs established based on the criteria described in subsection (3) of this section, a parent's:

     (a) Income up to one hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is allocated to the parent and other members of the parent's MAU. The excess is allocated to their children in separate MAUs.

     (b) Resources are allocated equally to the parent and all persons in the parent's household for whom the parent is financially responsible. This includes family members in separate MAUs.

     (5) The exceptions to the income allocations described in subsection (4) of this section are as follows:

     (((3))) (a) Only the parent's income actually contributed to a pregnant minor is considered income to the minor.

     (b) A parent's financial responsibility is limited when the minor child is receiving inpatient chemical dependency or mental health treatment. Only the income a parent chooses to contribute to the child is considered available when:

     (i) The treatment is expected to last ninety days or more;

     (ii) The child is in court-ordered, out-of-home care in accordance with chapter 13.34 RCW; or

     (iii) The department determines the parents are not exercising responsibility for the care and control of the child.

     (((4) A parent's income up to one hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is allocated to the parent and other members of the parent's MAU. The excess is allocated among their children in separate MAUs.

     (5) A parent's resources are allocated equally among the parent and all persons in the parent's household for whom the parent is financially responsible. This includes family members in separate MAUs)) (6) When determining eligibility for an SSI-related medical program, a separate MAU is required for:

     (a) SSI recipients;

     (b) An SSI-related person who has not been found eligible for family medical under this chapter; or

     (c) The purpose of applying medical income standards for an:

     (i) SSI-related applicant whose spouse is not relatable to SSI or is not applying for SSI-related medical; and

     (ii) Ineligible spouse of an SSI recipient.

     (7) For a person in a separate MAU, based on the criteria described in subsection (6) of this section, the income and resource allocations described in subsection (4) of this section are not used. The SSI-related individual's eligibility is determined using the allocations or deeming rules in chapter 388-475 WAC.

     (((6))) (8) Countable income for medical programs ((is described in WAC 388-450-0150 and)):

     (a) For SSI individuals is described in chapter 388-475 WAC; or

     (b) For family medical, pregnancy medical, and children's medical is described in WAC 388-450-0210.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-408-0055, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-408-0055, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-506-0610, 388-506-0630 and 388-507-0730.]

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