PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-05-079.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-416-0015 Certification periods for categorically needy medical and children's health insurance program (CHIP).
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 September 6, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than September 7, 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., September 6, 2005.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by September 2, 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: DSHS is amending these rules to eliminate the six-month reporting requirement and reinstate the twelve-month eligibility reviews for children's and CHIP (children's health insurance program) medical programs.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Amending this rule will reduce barriers (six-month reporting requirements) to medical assistance eligibility for children.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 279, Laws of 2005.
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: Kathy Johansen, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, (360) 725-1321.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This change does not affect small businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This rule revision is exempt from the provisions of RCW 34.05.328 per RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to...rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents."
July 28, 2005
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
3554.1(2) For a child eligible for the newborn medical program, the certification period begins on the child's date of birth and continues through the end of the month of the child's first birthday.
(3) For a woman eligible for a medical program based on pregnancy, the certification period ends the last day of the month that includes the sixtieth day from the day the pregnancy ends.
(4) For families ((and children)) the certification
period is twelve months with a six-month report required as a
condition of eligibility as described in WAC 388-418-0011.
(5) For children, the certification period is twelve months. Eligibility is continuous without regard to changes in circumstances other than aging out of the program, moving out of state or death. When the medical assistance unit is also receiving benefits under a cash or food assistance program, the medical certification period is updated to begin anew at each:
(a) Approved application for cash or food assistance; or
(b) Completed eligibility review.
(((5))) (6) For an SSI-related person the certification
period is twelve months.
(((6))) (7) When the child turns nineteen the
certification period ends even if the twelve-month period is
not over. The certification period may be extended past the
end of the month the child turns nineteen when:
(a) The child is receiving inpatient services on the last day of the month the child turns nineteen;
(b) The inpatient stay continues into the following month or months; and
(c) The child remains eligible except for exceeding age nineteen.
(((7))) (8) A retroactive certification period can begin
up to three months immediately before the month of application
when:
(a) The client would have been eligible for medical assistance if the client had applied; and
(b) The client received covered medical services as described in WAC 388-529-0100.
(((8))) (9) If the client is eligible only during the
three-month retroactive period, that period is the only period
of certification.
(((9))) (10) Any months of a retroactive certification
period are added to the designated certification periods
described in this section.
(((10))) (11) For a child determined eligible for CHIP
medical benefits as described in chapter 388-542 WAC:
(a) The certification periods are described in
subsections (1), (((4))) (5), and (((6))) (7) of this section;
(b) There is not a retroactive eligibility period as
described in subsections (((7), (8), and (9))) (8), (9), and
(10); and
(c) For a child who has creditable coverage at the time of application, the certification period begins on the first of the month after the child's creditable coverage is no longer in effect, if:
(i) All other CHIP eligibility factors are met; and
(ii) An eligibility decision is made per WAC 388-406-0035.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 2004 c 54. 04-21-064, § 388-416-0015, filed 10/18/04, effective 11/18/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and 2003 c 10. 04-03-019, § 388-416-0015, filed 1/12/04, effective 2/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090 and 74.09.450. 00-08-002, § 388-416-0015, filed 3/22/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-416-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly 388-509-0970, 388-521-2105, 388-522-2210 and 388-522-2230.]