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

     Purpose: The department is amending WAC 388-513-1380 Determining a client's financial participation in the cost of care for long-term care (LTC) services:

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Changing the community spouse income and family allocation to $1,712 effective July 1, 2007, due to a federal standard change.

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Changing the community spouse excess shelter standard to $514 effective July 1, 2007, due to a federal standard change.

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Increasing the personal needs allowance (PNA) for nongeneral assistance clients in medical institutions due to a state legislative budget increase of 3.3%.

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Making changes to the language and clarifying the rules.

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Clarifying that an unanticipated lump sum is not considered income in the month of receipt.

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Clarifying excess resources are reduced in an amount equal to necessary medical care recognized by state law.

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Clarifying the computation for the community spouse allowance.

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Clarifying the medical institution income exemption (MIIE) is allowed for residents of medical institutions only.      When effective, these permanent rules supersede emergency rules filed as WSR 07-14-079.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-513-1380.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530.

     Other Authority: 2005-07 omnibus operating budget (2006 supplement) DSHS (chapter 372, Laws of 2006).

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-16-092 on July 30, 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 19, 2007.

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

     (1) For a client receiving institutional or hospice services in a medical institution, the department applies all subsections of this rule.

     (2) For a client receiving waiver services at home or in an alternate living facility, the department applies only those subsections of this rule that are cited in the rules for those programs.

     (3) For a client receiving hospice services at home, or in an alternate living facility, the department applies rules used for the community options program entry system (COPES) for hospice applicants with income under the Medicaid special income level (SIL) (300% of the federal benefit rate (FBR), if the client is not otherwise eligible for another noninstitutional categorically needy Medicaid program. (Note: For hospice applicants with income over the Medicaid SIL, medically needy Medicaid rules apply.)

     (4) ((Excess resources are reduced in an amount equal to medical expenses incurred by the institutional client (for definition see WAC 388-519-0110(10)) that are not subject to third-party payment and for which the client is liable, including:

     (a) Health insurance and Medicare premiums, deductions, and co-insurance charges of the institutional client;

     (b) Necessary medical care recognized under state law, but not covered under the state's Medicaid plan with the exception of the deduction for medical and remedial care expenses that were incurred during a transfer of asset penalty established per WAC 388-513-1363, 388-513-1364 or 388-513-1365; and

     (c) The amount of excess resources is limited to the following amounts:

     (i) For LTC services provided under the categorically needy (CN) program, the amount described in WAC 388-513-1315(3); or

     (ii) For LTC services provided under the medically needy (MN) program, the amount described in WAC 388-513-1395 (2)(a) or (b).

     (5))) The department allocates nonexcluded income in the following order and the combined total of (((5))) (4)(a), (b), (c), and (d) cannot exceed the medically needy income level (MNIL):

     (a) A personal needs allowance (PNA) of:

     (i) One hundred sixty dollars for a client living in a state veterans' home;

     (ii) Ninety dollars for a veteran or a veteran's surviving spouse, who receives the ninety dollar VA improved pension and does not live in a state veterans' home; or

     (iii) Forty-one dollars and sixty-two cents for all clients in a medical institution receiving general assistance.

     (iv) Effective July 1, ((2006)) 2007, ((fifty-three)) fifty-five dollars and ((sixty-eight)) forty-five cents for all other clients in a medical institution.

     (b) Mandatory federal, state, or local income taxes owed by the client.

     (c) Wages for a client who:

     (i) Is related to the supplemental security income (SSI) program as described in WAC 388-503-0510(1); and

     (ii) Receives the wages as part of a department-approved training or rehabilitative program designed to prepare the client for a less restrictive placement. When determining this deduction employment expenses are not deducted.

     (d) Guardianship fees and administrative costs including any attorney fees paid by the guardian, after June 15, 1998, only as allowed by chapter 388-79 WAC.

     (((6))) (5) The department allocates nonexcluded income after deducting amounts described in subsection (((5))) (4) in the following order:

     (a) Income ((garnisheed)) garnished for child support or withheld according to a child support order in the month of garnishment (for current and back support):

     (i) For the time period covered by the PNA; and

     (ii) ((Not deducted under another provision in the post-eligibility process)) Is not counted as the dependent member's income when determining the family allocation amount.

     (b) A monthly maintenance needs allowance for the community spouse not to exceed, effective January 1, 2007, two thousand five hundred forty-one dollars, unless a greater amount is allocated as described in subsection (((8))) (7) of this section. The community spouse maintenance allowance is increased each January based on the consumer price index increase (from September to September, http://www.bls.gov/cpi/). The monthly maintenance needs allowance:

     (i) Consists of a combined total of both:

     (A) ((An amount added to the community spouse's gross income to provide a total of one thousand six hundred fifty dollars. This standard is based on)) One hundred fifty percent of the two person federal poverty level ((and)). This standard increases annually on July 1st (http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/); and

     (B) Excess shelter expenses as described under subsection (((7))) (6) of this section((; and)).

     (ii) Is reduced by the community spouse's gross countable income; and

     (((ii))) (iii) Is allowed only to the extent the client's income is made available to the community spouse.

     (c) A monthly maintenance needs amount for each minor or dependent child, dependent parent or dependent sibling of the community spouse or institutionalized person who:

     (i) Resides with the community spouse:

     (A) In an amount equal to one-third of ((one thousand six hundred fifty dollars)) one hundred fifty percent of the two person federal poverty level less the dependent family member's income. This standard ((is based on one hundred fifty percent of the two person federal poverty level and)) increases annually on July 1st (http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/).

     (ii) Does not reside with the community spouse or institutionalized person, in an amount equal to the MNIL for the number of dependent family members in the home less the dependent family member's income.

     (iii) Child support received from a noncustodial parent is the child's income.

     (d) ((Incurred medical expenses described in subsections (4)(a) and (b) not used to reduce excess resources with the following exceptions:

     (i) Private health insurance premiums for Medicare/Medicaid integration project (MMIP);

     (ii) Managed care health insurance premiums for program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE); and

     (iii) The deduction for medical and remedial care expenses that were incurred during a transfer of asset penalty per WAC 388-513-1363, 388-513-1364 or 388-513-1365)) Medical expenses incurred by the institutional client and not used to reduce excess resources. Allowable medical expenses and reducing excess resources are described in WAC 388-513-1350.

     (e) Maintenance of the home of a single institutionalized client or institutionalized couple:

     (i) Up to one hundred percent of the one-person federal poverty level per month;

     (ii) Limited to a six-month period;

     (iii) When a physician has certified that the client is likely to return to the home within the six-month period; and

     (iv) When social services staff documents ((initial)) the need for the income exemption.

     (((7))) (6) For the purposes of this section, "excess shelter expenses" means the actual expenses under subsection (((7))) (6)(b) less the standard shelter allocation under subsection (((7))) (6)(a). For the purposes of this rule:

     (a) The standard shelter allocation ((is four hundred ninety-five dollars. This standard)) is based on thirty percent of one hundred fifty percent of the two person federal poverty level. This standard increases annually on July 1st (http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/); and

     (b) Shelter expenses are the actual required maintenance expenses for the community spouse's principal residence for:

     (i) Rent;

     (ii) Mortgage;

     (iii) Taxes and insurance;

     (iv) Any maintenance care for a condominium or cooperative; and

     (v) The food stamp standard utility allowance for four persons, provided the utilities are not included in the maintenance charges for a condominium or cooperative.

     (((8))) (7) The amount allocated to the community spouse may be greater than the amount in subsection (6)(b) only when:

     (a) A court enters an order against the client for the support of the community spouse; or

     (b) A hearings officer determines a greater amount is needed because of exceptional circumstances resulting in extreme financial duress.

     (((9))) (8) A client who is admitted to a medical facility for ninety days or less and continues to receive full SSI benefits is not required to use the SSI income in the cost of care for medical services. Income allocations are allowed as described in this section from non-SSI income.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530, and 2006 c 372. 07-01-072, § 388-513-1380, filed 12/18/06, effective 1/18/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530 and 2005 c 518 § 207 and Sec. 1924 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-5). 06-07-144, § 388-513-1380, filed 3/21/06, effective 4/21/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). 05-07-033, § 388-513-1380, filed 3/9/05, effective 4/9/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.575; 2003 1st sp.s. c 28, and section 1924 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396R-5). 04-04-072, § 388-513-1380, filed 2/2/04, effective 3/4/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500 and Section 1924 (42 U.S.C. 1396R-5). 01-18-055, § 388-513-1380, filed 8/30/01, effective 9/30/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, and Section 1924(g) of the Social Security Act. 00-17-058, § 388-513-1380, filed 8/9/00, effective 9/9/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 72.36.160, 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500 and Section 1924(g) of the Social Security Act, Section 4715 of the BBA of 1997 (Public Law 105-33, HR 2015). 99-11-017, § 388-513-1380, filed 5/10/99, effective 6/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 43.20B.460, 11.92.180, and Section 1924 (42 USC 396r-5). 98-08-077, § 388-513-1380, filed 3/31/98, effective 4/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.530 and Social Security Act, Federal Register, March 10, 1997, pgs. 10856 - 10859, 42 U.S.C. 1396 (a)(l)(m). 97-16-008, § 388-513-1380, filed 7/24/97, effective 7/24/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and Title XIX State Agency Letter 95-44. 96-09-033 (Order 3963), § 388-513-1380, filed 4/10/96, effective 5/11/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 95-11-045 (Order 3848), § 388-513-1380, filed 5/10/95, effective 6/10/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and Title XIX State Agency Letter 94-49, notice of increase in SSI level. 95-05-022 (Order 3832), § 388-513-1380, filed 2/8/95, effective 3/11/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 94-10-065 (Order 3732), § 388-513-1380, filed 5/3/94, effective 6/3/94. Formerly WAC 388-95-360.]

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