Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-10-019.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amending WAC 388-513-1350 Defining the resource standard and determining resources eligibility for long-term care (LTC) services; and repealing WAC 388-513-1360 Determining excluded resources for long-term care (LTC) services.

     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 November 21, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than November 22, 2006.

     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., November 21, 2006.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by November 17, 2006, 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: This rule increases the spousal resource maximum from $41,000 to $41,943 effective July 1, 2005, and increases the community spousal share maximum to $99,540 effective January 1, 2006; clarifies that an individual retirement account (IRA) belonging to a community spouse is a countable resource when determining eligibility for long-term care (LTC) services; and amends rules due to federal law change in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act regarding disqualification for long-term care assistance for individuals with home equity in excess of $500,000, effective May 1, 2006.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530, 74.09.575.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530, 74.09.575, section 1924 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-5); Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (federal Public Law 109-171).

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, Section 6014 of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171).

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Lori Rolley, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, (360) 725-2271.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The department has analyzed these rules and determined that no new costs will be imposed on small businesses or nonprofits.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Rules are exempt under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii), regarding DSHS rules relating only to client medical or financial eligibility.

October 17, 2006

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) The resource standard used to determine eligibility for LTC services equals:

     (a) Two thousand dollars for:

     (i) A single client; or

     (ii) A legally married client with a community spouse, subject to the provisions described in subsections (((5))) (8) through (((8))) (11) of this section; or

     (b) Three thousand dollars for a legally married couple, unless subsection (((2))) (3) of this section applies.

     (2) ((If the department has already established eligibility for one spouse, then it applies the standard described in subsection (1)(a) to each spouse, unless doing so would make one of the spouses ineligible.

     (3))) When both spouses apply for LTC services the department considers the resources of both spouses as available to each other through the month in which the spouses stopped living together.

     (3) When both spouses are institutionalized, the department determines the eligibility for each spouse individually the month following the month of separation.

     (4) If the department has already established eligibility and authorized services for one spouse, and the community spouse needs LTC services in the same month, (but after eligibility has been established and services authorized for the institutional spouse), then the department applies the standard described in subsection (1)(a) of this section to each spouse. If doing this would make one of the spouses ineligible, then the department applies (a)(b) of this section for a couple.

     (5) When a single institutionalized individual marries, the department will redetermine eligibility applying the rules for a legally married couple.

     (6) The department applies the following rules when determining available resources for LTC services:

     (a) WAC 388-475-0300, Resource eligibility ((and limits));

     (b) WAC 388-475-0250, How to determine who owns a resource; and

     (c) WAC 388-470-0060(6), Resources of an alien's sponsor((; and

     (d) WAC 388-506-0620, SSI-related medical clients)).

     (((4))) (7) For LTC services the department determines a client's nonexcluded resources as follows:

     (a) ((For an SSI-related client, the department reduces available resources by excluding resources described in WAC 388-475-0350 through 388-475-0550;

     (b) For an SSI-related client who has a community spouse, the department:

     (i) Excludes resources described in WAC 388-513-1360; and

     (ii) Adds together the available resources of both spouses according to subsection (5)(a) or (b) as appropriate;

     (c) For a client not described in subsection (4)(a) or (b), the department applies the resource rules of the program used to relate the client to medical eligibility.

     (5) The department determines available resources of a legally married client, when both spouses are institutionalized, by following WAC 388-506-0620 (5) and (6).)) The department determines available resources for SSI-related clients as described in WAC 388-475-0350 through WAC 388-475-0550 and resources excluded by federal law with the exception of:

     (i) WAC 388-475-0550(16);

     (ii) WAC 388-475-0350 (1)(b) Clients who have submitted an application for LTC services on or after May 1, 2006 and have an equity interest greater than five hundred thousand dollars in their primary residence are ineligible for LTC services. This exception does not apply if a spouse or blind, disabled or dependent child under age twenty-one is lawfully residing in the primary residence. Clients denied or terminated LTC services due to excess home equity may apply for an undue hardship waiver.

     (b) For an SSI-related client one automobile per household is excluded regardless of value if it is used for transportation of the eligible individual/couple.

     (i) For an SSI-related client with a community spouse, the value of one automobile is excluded regardless of its use or value.

     (ii) Vehicles not meeting the definition of automobile is a vehicle that has been junked or a vehicle that is used only as a recreational vehicle.

     (c) For a SSI-related client, the department adds together the available resources of both spouses according to subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8)(a) or (b) as appropriate.

     (d) For an SSI-related client, excess resources are reduced in an amount equal to medical expenses incurred by the 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:

     (i) Health insurance and Medicare premiums, deductions, and co-insurance charges;

     (ii) 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, WAC 388-513-1364 or WAC 388-515-1365; and

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

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

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

     (e) For a client not related to SSI, the department applies the resource rules of the program used to relate the client to medical eligibility.

     (8) For legally married clients when only one spouse meets institutional status, the following rules apply. If the client's current period of institutional status began:

     (a) Before October 1, 1989, the department adds together one-half the total amount of nonexcluded resources held in the name of:

     (i) The institutionalized spouse; or

     (ii) Both spouses.

     (b) On or after October 1, 1989, the department adds together the total amount of nonexcluded resources held in the name of:

     (i) Either spouse; or

     (ii) Both spouses.

     (((6))) (9) If subsection (((5))) (8)(b) of this section applies, the department determines the amount of resources that are allocated to the community spouse before determining nonexcluded resources used to establish eligibility for the institutionalized spouse, as follows:

     (a) If the client's current period of institutional status began on or after October 1, 1989 and before August 1, 2003, the department allocates the maximum amount of resources ordinarily allowed by law. The maximum allocation amount is ((ninety-five)) ninety-nine thousand ((one)) five hundred forty dollars effective January 1, ((2005)) 2006 (this standard increases annually on January 1st based on the consumer price index); or

     (b) If the client's current period of institutional status began on or after August 1, 2003, the department allocates the greater of:

     (i) A spousal share equal to one-half of the couple's combined nonexcluded resources as of the beginning of the current period of institutional status, up to the amount described in subsection (((6))) (9)(a) of this section; or

     (ii) The state spousal resource standard of ((forty thousand)) forty-one thousand, nine-hundred forty-three dollars effective July 1, 2005 (this standard increases every odd year on July 1st).

     (((7))) (10) The amount of the spousal share described in (((6))) (9)(b)(i) ((is)) can be determined ((sometime)) anytime between the date that the current period of institutional status began and the date that eligibility for LTC services is determined. The following rules apply to the determination of the spousal share:

     (a) Prior to an application for LTC services, the couple's combined countable resources are evaluated from the date of the current period of institutional status at the request of either member of the couple. The determination of the spousal share is completed when necessary documentation and/or verification is provided; or

     (b) The determination of the spousal share is completed as part of the application for LTC services if the client was institutionalized prior to the month of application, and declares the spousal share exceeds the state spousal resource standard. The client ((will be)) is required to provide verification of the couple's combined countable resources held at the beginning of the current period of institutional status.

     (((8))) (11) The amount of allocated resources described in subsection (((6))) (9) of this section can be increased, only if:

     (a) A court transfers additional resources to the community spouse; or

     (b) An administrative law judge establishes in a fair hearing described in chapter 388-02 WAC ((or by consent order)), that the amount is inadequate to provide a minimum monthly maintenance needs amount for the community spouse.

     (((9))) (12) The department considers resources of the community spouse unavailable to the institutionalized spouse the month after eligibility for LTC services is established, unless subsection (((10))) (13)(a), (b), or (c) of this section applies.

     (((10))) (13) A redetermination of the couple's resources as described in subsections (((4)(b) or (c))) (7) is required, if:

     (a) The institutionalized spouse has a break of at least thirty consecutive days in a period of institutional status;

     (b) The institutionalized spouse's nonexcluded resources exceed the standard described in subsection (1)(a), if subsection (((5))) (8)(b) applies; or

     (c) The institutionalized spouse does not transfer the amount described in subsections (((6))) (9) or (((8))) (11) to the community spouse or to another person for the sole benefit of the community spouse as described in WAC 388-513-1365(4) by either:

     (i) The first regularly scheduled eligibility review; or

     (ii) The reasonable amount of additional time necessary to obtain a court order for the support of the community spouse.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). 05-07-033, § 388-513-1350, 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, § 388-513-1350, 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, § 388-513-1350, filed 8/30/01, effective 9/30/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 11.92.180, 43.20B.460, 48.85.020, 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.09.530, 74.[09.]575, 74.09.585; 20 C.F.R. 416.1110-1112, 1123 and 1160; 42 C.F.R. 435.403 (j)(2) and 1005; and Sections 17, 1915(c), and 1924 (42 U.S.C. 1396) of the Social Security Act. 00-01-051, § 388-513-1350, filed 12/8/99, effective 1/8/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.09.500. 99-06-045, § 388-513-1350, filed 2/26/99, effective 3/29/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, 74.09.575 and Section 1924 (42 USC 1396r-5). 98-11-033, § 388-513-1350, filed 5/14/98, effective 6/14/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090 and 74.09.575. 97-09-112, § 388-513-1350, filed 4/23/97, effective 5/24/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and Title XIX State Agency Letter 95-44. 96-09-033 (Order 3963), § 388-513-1350, filed 4/10/96, effective 5/11/96. 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), § 388-513-1350, filed 2/8/95, effective 3/11/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 94-23-129 (Order 3808), § 388-513-1350, filed 11/23/94, effective 12/24/94; 94-10-065 (Order 3732), § 388-513-1350, filed 5/3/94, effective 6/3/94. Formerly parts of WAC 388-95-337 and 388-95-340.]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 388-513-1360

Determining excluded resources for long-term care (LTC) services.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office