Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-23-110.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-406-0005 Can I apply for cash, medical, or Basic Food?

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA (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 March 7, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than March 8, 2006.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., on March 7, 2006.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by March 3, 2006, TTY (360) 664-6178 or phone (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: This amended rule supports the requirement that the department: Accept public assistance applications submitted prior to release from a public institution by a person with mental illness; determine the person's eligibility for medical assistance and; when possible, issue medical benefits upon the person's release from the public institution. This rule also supports the department accepting other public assistance applications from people in a public institution but without the requirement to determine eligibility before release from the institution.

     The anticipated effects are that the department will not reject public assistance applications submitted by persons while they are in a public institution and that the department, applicants and professionals at public institutions understand when and how the department will process these applications.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The purpose of this proposal is to comply with RCW 74.09.555 and chapter 503, Laws of 2005.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.555 (chapter 503, 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: Doug Sevin, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, (360) 725-4614.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses, it only affects DSHS clients by outlining the rules clients must meet in order to be eligible for the department's cash assistance or food benefit programs.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under 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."

January 20, 2006

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (2) You must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to receive a program benefit.

     (3) You can apply for someone else if you are:

     (a) A legal guardian, caretaker, or authorized representative applying for:

     (i) A dependent child;

     (ii) An incapacitated person; or

     (iii) Someone who is deceased.

     (b) Applying for someone who cannot apply for some other reason. We may ask why the applicant is unable to apply on their own behalf.

     (4) If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you do not need to apply for medical benefits. We automatically open medical benefits for you.

     (5) A person or agency may apply for GAU or medical assistance for you if:

     (a) You temporarily live out-of-state; and

     (b) You are a Washington state resident.

     (6) When you are confined or incarcerated in a Washington State public institution, you may apply for cash or medical assistance within forty-five days prior to your expected release date if you meet the following criteria:

     (a) You are confined by or in the following public institutions:

     (i) Department of Corrections;

     (ii) City or county jail; or

     (iii) Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD).

     (b) Staff at the public institution provide medical records including diagnosis by a mental health professional that you have a mental disorder (as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders, most recent edition) that affects your thoughts, mood or behavior so severely that it prevents you from performing any kind of work.

     (7) The department will make an eligibility determination for medical assistance prior to your release from confinement and will authorize medical benefits upon your release from confinement when you:

     (a) Meet the criteria of subsection (6) in this section; and

     (b) Were receiving Medicaid or General Assistance benefits immediately before confinement or within the five years prior to confinement.

     (8) If you meet the criteria in subsection (6) but did not receive Medicaid or General Assistance benefits within the past five years, the department will process your request for medical assistance within the time frames in WAC 388-406-0035.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-22-039, § 388-406-0005, filed 10/28/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 02-11-137, § 388-406-0005, filed 5/21/02, effective 7/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-406-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-504-0405 and 388-504-0410.]