Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-13-135.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-418-0025 Effect of changes on medical [program eligibility], 388-424-0010 Citizenship and alien status -- Immigrant eligibility restrictions for the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program and medical benefits, including nonemergency Medicaid and the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP), 388-450-0210 Countable income for medical programs, 388-505-0210 Children's medical eligibility, 388-523-0130 Medical extension -- Redetermination.

     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 October 11, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 12, 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., October 11, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by October 7, 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 department is revising these rules to reinstate the children's health program for noncitizen children under age eighteen with income at or below 100% federal poverty level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. These rules also implement the governor's directive to reinstitute twelve month continuous eligibility for children's medical.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: More children will have access to medical care.

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

     Statute Being Implemented: E2SHB 1441 (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 98504-5470, (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. Client eligibility rules for medical assistance are exempt from the provision of RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).

August 30, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (a) A CN Medicaid program; or

     (b) Any of the following cash grants:

     (i) TANF;

     (ii) SSI; or

     (iii) GA-X. See WAC 388-434-0005 for changes reported during eligibility review.

     (2) If you become ineligible for refugee cash assistance, refugee medical assistance can be continued through the eight-month limit, as described in WAC 388-400-0035(4).

     (3) If you receive a TANF cash grant or family medical, you are eligible for a medical extension, as described under WAC 388-523-0100, when your cash grant or family medical program is terminated as a result of:

     (a) Earned income; or

     (b) Collection of child or spousal support.

     (4) A change in income during a certification period does affect eligibility for all medical programs except:

     (a) Pregnant women's medical programs;

     (b) Children's medical for newborns (F05); ((or))

     (c) Children's medical benefits (F06);

     (d) Children's Health Program (F08); or

     (e) The first six months of the medical extension benefits.

     (5) For a child receiving benefits under SCHIP as described in chapter 388-542 WAC, the department must redetermine eligibility for a Medicaid program when the family reports:

     (a) Family income has decreased to less than two hundred percent Federal Poverty Level (FPL);

     (b) The child becomes pregnant;

     (c) A change in family size; or

     (d) The child receives SSI.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and 2003 c 10. 04-03-019, § 388-418-0025, filed 1/12/04, effective 2/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-418-0025, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090 and 74.09.450. 00-08-002, § 388-418-0025, filed 3/22/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057 and Section 4731 of the BBA (Public Law 105-33). 99-10-064, § 388-418-0025, filed 5/3/99, effective 6/3/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-418-0025, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-508-0840, 388-509-0920, 388-509-0960, 388-522-2205 and 388-522-2210.]

     (a) A U.S. citizen;

     (b) A U.S. national;

     (c) An American Indian born outside the U.S.;

     (d) A "qualified alien";

     (e) A victim of trafficking; or

     (f) A Hmong or Highland Lao.

     (2) A "qualified alien" who first physically entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996 as described in WAC 388-424-0006(1) may receive TANF, nonemergency Medicaid, and SCHIP benefits.

     (3) A "qualified alien" who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, nonemergency Medicaid, or SCHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless he or she is an alien as described under WAC 388-424-0006(4).

     (4) An alien who is ineligible for TANF, nonemergency Medicaid, or SCHIP because of the five-year bar or because of their immigration status may be eligible for:

     (a) Emergency benefits as described in WAC ((388-424-0018 [388-436-0015])) 388-436-0015 (consolidated emergency assistance program) and WAC 388-438-0110 (alien emergency medical program); or

     (b) State-funded cash or chemical dependency benefits as described in WAC 388-424-0015 (SFA, GA and ADATSA) and medical benefits as described in WAC 388-424-0016; or

     (c) Pregnancy medical benefits as described in WAC 388-462-0015; or

     (d) Children's health program as described in WAC 388-505-0210.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-004, § 388-424-0010, filed 7/7/04, effective 8/7/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-424-0010, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and Public Law 106-395. 02-03-008, § 388-424-0010, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.08A.100. 99-17-023, § 388-424-0010, filed 8/10/99, effective 9/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-424-0010, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0520 and 388-518-1805.]

     (a) The income cannot be specifically excluded; and

     (b) All appropriate deductions and disregards allowed by a specific program, have been applied.

     (2) A client's countable income cannot exceed the income standard for the specific medical programs described in WAC 388-478-0065, 388-478-0070, 388-478-0075, 388-478-0080, or 388-513-1305, 388-513-1315, or 388-513-1395 unless the program allows for those limits to be exceeded.

     (3) Unless modified by subsection (4) of this section, the TANF/SFA income rules, as described in this chapter, are used to determine a client's countable income for the following programs:

     (a) Family medical program as described in WAC 388-505-0220;

     (b) Medical extensions as described in chapter 388-523 WAC;

     (c) Pregnant women's program as described in WAC 388-462-0015;

     (d) Children's medical program as described in WAC 388-505-0210;

     (e) Children's health program as described in WAC 388-505-0210; and

     (f) ((Medically Indigent (MI))) Psychiatric indigent inpatient (PII) program as described in WAC ((388-438-0100)) 388-865-0217.

     (4) Exceptions to the TANF/SFA cash assistance methodology apply as follows:

     (a) The financial responsibility of relatives when a client is applying for medical for families, children, pregnant women or for the ((medically)) psychiatric indigent inpatient program is specified in WAC 388-408-0055;

     (b) Actual work-related child and dependent care expenses, which are the client's responsibility, are income deductions (the limits on this deduction in WAC 388-450-0170 (3) and (4) do not apply);

     (c) Court or administratively ordered current or back support paid to meet the needs of legal dependents, are income deductions;

     (d) Only income actually contributed to an alien client from the alien's sponsor is countable unless the sponsor signed the affidavit of support I-864 or I-864A. See subsection (5) of this section;

     (e) TANF/SFA gross earned income limits as described in WAC 388-450-0165 do not apply;

     (f) The fifty percent earned income deduction is not used to calculate countable income for CN programs with income levels based upon the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). These programs are listed in subsections (3)(c), (d) and (((d))) (e) of this section. The only work related income deductions for these programs are:

     (i) Ninety dollars; and

     (ii) Actual work-related child and dependent care expenses, as described in (b) of this subsection; and

     (iii) Child support as described in (c) of this subsection.

     (g) When determining medically needy (MN) or MN scope of care coverage for children or pregnant women for the programs described in subsections (3)(c) ((and)), (d), and (e), the exception described in subsection (4)(f) is not used as the MN income standards are not based on the FPL;

     (h) A nonrecurring lump sum payment is considered as income in the month the client receives payment, and a resource if the client retains the payment after the month of receipt;

     (i) Diversion cash assistance (DCA), is not countable income;

     (j) Effective April 1, 2002, the department will disregard an increase in earned income when:

     (i) A family is receiving benefits under the family medical program; and

     (ii) The increase occurs during the second or third month of eligibility. The disregard stops the last day of the third month of eligibility for a family medical program.

     (5) When an alien's sponsor has signed the affidavit of support I-864 or I-864A, the sponsor's income and resources are counted as described in WAC 388-450-0155, 388-450-0156, 388-450-0160, and 388-470-0060.

     (6) Except when this state has adopted more liberal rules, SSI income rules are used to determine a client's countable income for the following programs:

     (a) SSI-related CN or MN; and

     (b) Medicare savings programs. Refer to chapter 388-475 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-450-0210, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, and Title XIX State Plan amendment 00-008. 02-03-009, § 388-450-0210, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0210, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0580, 388-505-0590 and 388-519-1910.]

     (a) The child's mother was eligible for and receiving coverage under a medical program at the time of the child's birth; and

     (b) The child remains with the mother and resides in the state.

     (2) Children under the age of nineteen are eligible for CN medical assistance when they meet the requirements for:

     (a) Citizenship or U.S. national status as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 or "qualified alien" status as described in WAC 388-424-0006 (1) or (4);

     (b) State residence as described in chapter 388-468 WAC;

     (c) A social security number as described in chapter 388-476 WAC; and

     (d) Family income levels as described in WAC 388-478-0075 (1)(c) at each application or review.

     (3) Children under the age of nineteen are eligible for the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP), as described in chapter 388-542 WAC, when:

     (a) They meet the requirements of subsection (2)(a), (b), and (c) of this section;

     (b) They do not have other creditable health insurance coverage; and

     (c) Family income exceeds two hundred percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), but does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the FPL as described in WAC 388-478-0075 (1)(c) and (d).

     (4) Children under the age of twenty-one are eligible for CN medical assistance when they meet:

     (a) Citizenship or immigrant status, state residence, and social security number requirements as described in subsection (2)(a), (b), and (c) of this section;

     (b) Income levels described in WAC 388-478-0075; and

     (c) One of the following criteria:

     (i) Reside, or are expected to reside, in a medical hospital, intermediate care facility for mentally retarded (ICF/MR), or nursing facility for thirty days or more;

     (ii) Reside in a psychiatric or chemical dependency facility for ninety days or more;

     (iii) Are in foster care; or

     (iv) Receive subsidized adoption services.

     (d) For a child meeting the criteria (c)(i) of this subsection, the only parental income the department considers available to the child is the amount the parent chooses to contribute.

     (e) For a child meeting the criteria in (c)(ii) of this subsection, parental income is counted as described in WAC 388-408-0055 (1)(c).

     (5) Children are eligible for CN medical assistance if they:

     (a) Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments based upon their own disability; or

     (b) Received SSI cash assistance for August 1996, and except for the August 1996 passage of amendments to federal disability definitions, would be eligible for SSI cash assistance.

     (6) Children under the age of nineteen are eligible for medically needy (MN) medical assistance as defined in chapter 388-500 WAC when they:

     (a) Meet citizenship or immigrant status, state residence, and social security number requirements as described in subsection (2)(a), (b), and (c); and

     (b) Have income above the income levels described in WAC 388-478-0075 (1)(c).

     (7) A child is eligible for SSI-related MN when the child:

     (a) Meets the blind and/or disability criteria of the federal SSI program or the condition in subsection (5)(b); and

     (b) Has countable income above the level described in WAC 388-478-0070(1).

     (8) Noncitizen children under the age of eighteen, including visitors or students from another country, undocumented children and "qualified alien" children as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 who are ineligible due to the five-year bar as described in WAC 388-424-0006(3), are eligible for the state-funded children's health program, if:

     (a) The department determines the child ineligible for any CN or MN scope of care medical program;

     (b) They meet family income levels described in WAC 388-478-0075 (1)(e);

     (c) They meet state residence as described in chapter 388-468 WAC; and

     (d) Program limits established by the legislature would not result in an overexpenditure of funds.

     (9) There are no resource limits for children under CN, MN, ((or)) SCHIP, or children's health coverage.

     (((9))) (10) Children may also be eligible for:

     (a) Family medical as described in WAC 388-505-0220; or

     (b) Medical extensions as described in WAC 388-523-0100.

     (((10))) (11) Except for a client described in subsection (4)(c)(i) and (ii), an inmate of a public institution, as defined in WAC 388-500-0005, is not eligible for CN or MN medical coverage.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-057, § 388-505-0210, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050. 03-14-107, § 388-505-0210, filed 6/30/03, effective 7/31/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-505-0210, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, [74.04.]055, and [74.04.]057. 01-11-110, § 388-505-0210, filed 5/21/01, effective 6/21/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.08A.100. 99-17-023, § 388-505-0210, filed 8/10/99, effective 9/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-505-0210, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-509-0905, 388-509-0910 and 388-509-0920.]

     (2) Children are eligible for twelve month continuous eligibility beginning with the first month of the medical extension period.

     (3) When a family reports a reduction of income, the family may be eligible for a family medical program instead of medical extension benefits.

     (((3))) (4) Postpartum and family planning extensions are described in WAC 388-462-0015.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 2001 c 7 § 209. 02-10-018, § 388-523-0130, filed 4/22/02, effective 5/23/02.]

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