WSR 14-17-129

[Filed August 20, 2014, 10:25 a.m.]

Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 14-0031.

Effective Date: October 1, 2014.

Description: The health care authority (the agency) intends to submit medicaid SPA 14-0031 in response to recent guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allowing states that recognize same-sex marriages to use the same rules as those for opposite-sex marriages when determining eligibility for medicaid programs not based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) methodologies. This follows earlier CMS guidance regarding programs based on MAGI methodologies. This action reflects Washington state's recognition of married same-sex couples (without regard to where the marriage was performed). The same criteria will be used for household[s] with same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples when determining eligibility, using either MAGI or non-MAGE [non-MAGI] methodologies. This SPA is proposed to become effective on October 1, 2014. The impact of this SPA on annual aggregate expenditures is unknown at this time.

For additional information contact Stephen Kozak, Eligibility Policy and Service Delivery, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, phone (360) 725-1343, TDD/TTY 800-848-6529, fax (360) 664-2186, e-mail Stephen.kozak@hca.wa.gov.