Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The passage of SHB 2376 (chapter 24, Laws of 2006) eliminated the possibility of premiums for medicaid children. This WAC is amended to allow families to be considered as one medical assistance unit when family members are found to be eligible as such.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-408-0055.

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

     Other Authority: RCW 74.09.055 as amended by chapter 24, Laws of 2006.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-06-058 on March 5, 2007.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: May 8, 2007.

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

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

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

     (b) 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))) (3) Minor children are not financially responsible for their parents or for their siblings.

     (((3))) (4) When determining eligibility for family, pregnancy, or children's medical programs, follow the income rules as described in WAC 388-450-0106(1) through (7). Only one MAU is required when all family members are eligible for categorically needy (CN) medical coverage.

     (5) If a family is not eligible as one MAU for a CN program, separate MAUs are required for family members living in the same household 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 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;

     (((4))) (6) For a family with multiple MAUs established based on the criteria described in subsection (((3))) (5) 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))) (7) The exceptions to the income allocations described in subsection (((4))) (6) of this section are as follows:

     (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.

     (((6))) (8) 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))) (9) For a person in a separate MAU, based on the criteria described in subsection (((6))) (8) of this section, the income and resource allocations described in subsection (((4))) (6) 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.

     (((8))) (10) Countable income for medical programs:

     (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 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.09.530. 06-04-021, § 388-408-0055, filed 1/23/06, effective 2/23/06. 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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