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DAR File No. 28595 |
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| This filing was published in the 04/15/2006, issue, Vol. 2006, No.8, of the Utah State Bulletin. | |
| [ 04/15/2006 Bulletin Table of Contents / Bulletin Page ] | |
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Health, Health Care Financing, Coverage and Reimbursement Policy R414-305 Resources |
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NOTICE OF 120-DAY (EMERGENCY) RULE |
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DAR File No.: 28595 |
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RULE ANALYSIS |
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Purpose of the rule or reason for the change: |
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This rule puts into effect the provisions from Pub. L. No. 109-171 that affect several eligibility criteria for the receipt of Medicaid for nursing home and long-term care services provided under a home and community based waiver program. These provisions became effective on the enactment date of the law and will affect the state's federal financial participation beginning 04/01/2006.
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Summary of the rule or change: |
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This rulemaking incorporates sections of Pub. L. No. 109-171 that affect the treatment of transfers of assets for less than fair market value. It changes the length of the look back period for transfers of assets. It changes the date the sanction period begins when an individual or the spouse has transferred assets for less than fair market value. It also requires the state to assess sanctions for transfers that are equal to less than the one month average private pay rate for nursing home services. Pub. L. No. 109-171 also establishes new requirements for annuities for which an institutionalized individual or the individual's spouse has an interest. Annuities will have to name the Utah Medicaid Program as the remainder beneficiary. It sets a limit to the amount of equity an institutionalized individual can have in the individual's principal residence at $500,000 or less and still qualify for Medicaid for long-term care services. In conjunction with these changes, this rulemaking redefines when an individual's home or life estate can be excluded.
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State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule: |
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Title 26, Chapter 18
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| This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material: | |
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Pub. L. No. 109-171, Sections 6011, 6012, 6013, 6014, 6015, and 6016
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Anticipated cost or savings to: |
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the state budget: |
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There could be some increased administrative costs because of additional staff work in gathering and evaluating information relating to these new eligibility requirements. We do not have any data about any savings that may be realized by the state, but the expectation of Congress is that these changes could save Medicaid dollars because some individuals will not qualify for long-term care services.
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local governments: |
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This rulemaking action does not impact local governments because determining Medicaid eligibility is not a local government function so there are no costs or savings.
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other persons: |
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Individuals who are seeking long-term care services from Medicaid may face increased costs if they are determined ineligible for long-term care services as a result of these new provisions. However, we do not have data as to the aggregate costs or number of individuals who may be affected.
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Compliance costs for affected persons: |
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Individuals who seek Medicaid to pay for nursing home or other long-term care services may face increased costs because they may be ineligible under these new provisions of the law. However, we do not have data as to the individual costs or number of individuals who may be affected.
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Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses: |
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This rule amendment will have no fiscal impact on businesses. It applies only to individuals who have transferred away their assets as a means to qualify Medicaid eligibility for long-term care. David N. Sundwall, MD, Executive Director
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Emergency rule reason and justification: |
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| Regular rulemaking procedures would place the agency in violation of federal or state law. | |
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Pub. L. No. 109-171 was enacted 02/08/2006. It has several amendments affecting Medicaid eligibility for nursing home and long-term care services under home- and community-based Medicaid waivers that became effective on the date of enactment. Emergency rulemaking is needed to comply with these new requirements.
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The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at: |
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Health Health Care Financing, Coverage and Reimbursement Policy CANNON HEALTH BLDG 288 N 1460 W SALT LAKE CITY UT 84116-3231
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Direct questions regarding this rule to: |
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Ross Martin at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6592, by FAX at 801-538-6099, or by Internet E-mail at rmartin@utah.gov
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This rule is effective on: |
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04/01/2006
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Authorized by: |
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David N. Sundwall, Executive Director
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RULE TEXT |
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R414. Health, Health Care Financing, Coverage and Reimbursement Policy. R414-305. Resources. R414-305-1. A, B and D Medicaid and A, B and D Institutional Medicaid Resource Provisions. (1) This section establishes the standards for the treatment of resources to determine eligibility for aged, blind and disabled Medicaid and aged, blind and disabled institutional Medicaid. ([ ([ (a) "Burial plot" means a burial space and any item related to repositories customarily used for the remains of any deceased member of the household. This includes caskets, concrete vaults, urns, crypts, grave markers and the cost of opening and closing a grave site. (b) "Sanction" means a period of time during which a person is not eligible for Medicaid services for institutional care or services provided under a Home and Community Based waiver due to a transfer of assets for less than fair market value. (c) "Transfer" in regard to assets means a person has disposed of assets for less than fair market value. ([ ([ ([ ([ ([ ([ ([ ([ (a) Reasonable action would not be successful in making the resource available. (b) The probable cost of making the resource available exceeds its value. ([ ([ (14) The Department excludes an institutionalized individual's principal home or life estate from countable resources if the individual's equity in the home or life estate does not exceed the equity limit established in Section 6014 of Pub. L. 109-171, and one of the following conditions is met: (i) the individual intends to return to the home; (ii) the individual's spouse resides in the home; (iii) the individual's child who is under age 21, or who is blind or disabled resides in the home; or (iv) a reliant relative of the individual resides in the home. ([ [ ] ([ ([ ([ ([ ([ [ ] (21) For the Medicaid Work Incentive Program, the
Department [ (a) Retirement funds held in an employer or union pension plan, retirement plan or account, including 401(k) plans, or an Individual Retirement Account, even if such funds are available to the individual. (b) A second vehicle when it is used by a spouse or child of the eligible individual living in the household to get to work. (22) After qualifying for the Medicaid Work Incentive Program, these resources described in R414-305-1(21) will continue to be excluded throughout the lifetime of the individual to qualify for A, B or D Medicaid programs other than the Medicaid Work Incentive, even if the individual ceases to have earned income or no longer meets the criteria for the Work Incentive Program. (23) Assets shall be deemed from an alien's sponsor, and the sponsor's spouse, if any, when the sponsor has signed an Affidavit of Support pursuant to Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act on or after December 19, 1997. Sponsor deeming will end when the alien becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen, or has worked 40 qualifying quarters as defined under Title II of the Social Security Act or can be credited with 40 qualifying work quarters. Beginning after December 31, 1996, a creditable qualifying work quarter is one during which the alien did not receive any federal means-tested public benefit. (24) Sponsor deeming does not apply to applicants who are eligible for Medicaid for emergency services only. (25) Life estates. (a) For non-institutional Medicaid, life estates shall be counted as resources only when a market exists for the sale of the life estate as established by knowledgeable sources. (b) For Institutional Medicaid, life estates are countable resources even if no market exists for the sale of the life estate, unless the life estate can be excluded as defined in paragraph 14 of this section. (c) The client may dispute the value of the life estate by verifying the property value to be less than the established value or by submitting proof based on the age and life expectancy of the life estate owner that the value of the life estate is lower. The value of a life estate shall be based upon the age of the client and the current market value of the property. (d) The following table lists the life estate figure corresponding to the client's age. This figure is used to establish the value of a life estate:
TABLE
R414-305-2. Family Medicaid and Family Institutional Medicaid Resource Provisions. (1) This section establishes the [ (2) The Department adopts 45 CFR 233.20(a)(3)(i)(B)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (6), and 233.20(a)(3)(vi)(A), 2004 ed., which are incorporated by reference. The Department adopts Subsection 1902(k) of the Compilation of the Social Security Laws, 1993 ed., which is incorporated by reference. The Department adopts 1917(d) and (e), Subsection 404(h) and 1613(a)(13) of the Compilation of the Social Security Laws in effect January 1, 2003, which are incorporated by reference. The Department adopts sections 6012, 6014 and 6015(b) of Pub. L. 109-171 which are incorporated by reference. The Department does not count as an available resource retained funds from sources that federal laws specifically prohibit from being counted as a resource to determine eligibility for federally-funded medical assistance programs. Insofar as any provision of this rule is inconsistent with applicable federal law, the applicable federal law governs over the inconsistent rule provision. (3) A resource is available when the client owns it or has the legal right to sell or dispose of the resource for the client's own benefit. (4) Except for pregnant women who meet the criteria under Sections 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IV) and 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(IX) of the Social Security Act in effect January 1, 2003, the resource limit is $2,000 for a one person household, $3,000 for a two person household and $25 for each additional household member. For pregnant women defined above, the resource limit is defined in R414-303-11. (5) Except for the exclusion for a vehicle, the agency uses the same methodology for treatment of resources for all medically needy and categorically needy individuals. (6) To determine countable resources for Medicaid eligibility, the agency considers all available resources owned by the client. The agency does not consider a resource unavailable based upon the client's intent to or action of disposing of non-liquid resources. (7) The agency counts resources of a [ (8) If a legal guardian, conservator, authorized representative, or other responsible person controls any resources of an applicant or recipient, the agency counts the resources as the applicant's or recipient's. The arrangement may be formal or informal. (9) If a resource is potentially available, but a legal impediment to making it available exists, the agency does not count the resource until it can be made available. Before an applicant can be made eligible, or to continue eligibility for a recipient, the applicant or recipient must take appropriate steps to make the resource available unless one of the following conditions exist: (a) Reasonable action would not be successful in making the resource available. (b) The probable cost of making the resource available exceeds its value. (10) Except for determining countable resources for 1931 Family Medicaid, the agency excludes a maximum of $1,500 in equity value of one vehicle. (11) The agency does not count as resources the value of household goods and personal belongings that are essential for day-to-day living. Any single household good or personal belonging with a value that exceeds $1000 must be counted toward the resource limit. The agency does not count as a resource the value of any item that a household member needs because of the household member's medical or physical condition. (12) The agency does not count the value of one wedding ring and one engagement ring as a resource. (13) For a non-institutionalized individual,
the[ (14) The agency does not count the resources of a child who is not counted in the household size to determine eligibility of other household members. (15) For a non-institutionalized individual,
the[ (16) The agency does not count as a resource the value of water rights attached to an excluded home and lot. (17) The agency does not count any resource, or interest from a resource held within the rules of the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. The agency counts as a resource any money from such a resource that is given to the child as unearned income and retained beyond the month received. (18) Lump sum payments received on a sales contract for the sale of an exempt home are not counted if the entire proceeds are committed to replacement of the property sold within 30 days and the purchase is completed within 90 days. The individual shall receive one extension of 90 days, if more than 90 days is needed to complete the actual purchase. Proceeds are defined as all payments made on the principal of the contract. Proceeds do not include interest earned on the principal. (19) Retroactive benefits received from the Social Security Administration and the Railroad Retirement Board are not counted as a resource for the first 9 months after receipt. (20) The agency excludes from resources, a burial and funeral fund or funeral arrangement up to $1500 for each household member who is counted in the household size. Burial and funeral agreements include burial trusts, funeral plans, and funds set aside expressly for the purposes of burial. All such funds must be separated from non-burial funds and clearly designated as burial funds. Interest earned on exempt burial funds and left to accumulate does not count as a resource. If exempt burial funds are used for some other purpose, remaining funds will be counted as an available resource as of the date funds are withdrawn. (21) Assets shall be deemed from an alien's sponsor, and the sponsor's spouse, if any, when the sponsor has signed an Affidavit of Support pursuant to Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act on or after December 19, 1997. Sponsor deeming will end when the alien becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen, or has worked 40 qualifying quarters as defined under Title II of the Social Security Act or can be credited with 40 qualifying work quarters. Beginning after December 31, 1996, a creditable qualifying work quarter is one during which the alien did not receive any federal means-tested public benefit. (22) Sponsor deeming does not apply to applicants who are eligible for Medicaid for emergency services only. (23) Business resources required for employment or self employment are not counted. (24) For 1931 Family Medicaid households, the agency will not count as a resource either the equity value of one vehicle that meets the definition of a "passenger vehicle" as defined in 26-18-2(6), or $1,500 of the equity of one vehicle, whichever provides the greatest disregard for the household. (25) For eligibility under Family-related Medicaid programs, the agency will not count as a resource retirement funds held in an employer or union pension plan, retirement plan or account including 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts of a disabled parent or disabled spouse who is not included in the coverage. [ ] ([
R414-305-3. Spousal Impoverishment Resource Rules for Married Institutionalized Individuals. (1) This section establishes the standards for the treatment of resources for married couples when one spouse is institutionalized and the other spouse is not institutionalized. ([ ([ [ ] (4) [ (5) "Undue hardship" in regard to counting a spouse's resources as available to the institutionalized client means: (a) The client [ (b) The client will not be able to get the medical care needed without Medicaid. (c) The client is at risk of death or permanent disability without institutional care. (6) The agency will determine the client's
[ (a) The spouse cannot be located or will not provide information needed to determine eligibility. (b) The client meets the undue hardship
criteria including assigning support rights to the State[ (7) The assessed spousal share of resources shall not be less than the minimum amount nor more than the maximum amount mandated by section 1924(f) of the Compilation of the Social Security Laws in effect January 1, 1999. (8) Any resource owned by the community spouse in excess of the assessed spousal share is counted to determine the institutionalized client's initial Medicaid eligibility. (9) A protected period, after eligibility is established, lasting until the time of the next regularly scheduled eligibility redetermination is allowed for an institutionalized client to transfer resources to the community spouse. (10) After eligibility is established for the institutionalized client, those resources held in the name of the community spouse will not be considered available to the institutionalized client to determine the countable resources of the institutionalized client.
R414-305-4. Medicaid Qualifying Trusts. The Department adopts Section 1902(k) of the Compilation of the Social Security Laws, 1993 ed., which is incorporated by reference.
R414-305-5. Transfer of Resources for A, B and D Medicaid and Family Medicaid. There is no sanction for the transfer of resources.
R414-305-6. Transfer of Resources for Institutional Medicaid. (1) This section establishes the standards for the treatment of transfers of assets for less than fair market value to determine eligibility for nursing home or other long-term care services under a home and community based services waiver. ([ (3) If an individual or the individual's spouse transfers the home or life estate, the transfer requirements of Section 1917(c) of the Compilation of the Social Security Act apply. (4) If an individual or the individual's spouse transfers assets in more than one month on or after February 8, 2006, the uncompensated value of all transfers including fractional transfers are combined to determine the sanction period. The Department applies partial month sanctions for transferred amounts that are less than the monthly average private pay rate for nursing home services. (5) If assets are transferred during any sanction period, the sanction period for those transfers will not begin until the previous sanction has expired. (6) If a transfer occurs after an individual has been approved for Medicaid for nursing home or home and community based services, the sanction begins on the first day of the month after the month the asset is transferred. ([ ([ ([ (a) Up to $7,000 can be distributed to cover burial and funeral expenses. The total value of this distribution plus the value of any irrevocable burial trusts and/or the burial and funeral funds for the client can not exceed $7,000. (b) An amount to the state that is not more than the total amount of previously unreimbursed medical assistance correctly paid on behalf of the client. (c) Any amount remaining after payments are made as defined in a. and b. will be made to a beneficiary named by the client. (10) If the agency determines that a sanction period applies for an otherwise eligible institutionalized person, the agency shall notify the individual that the individual is ineligible for nursing home or other long-term care services because of the sanction. The notice shall include when the sanction period begins and ends. The individual may request a waiver of the sanction period based on undue hardship. The individual must send a written request to the agency within 30 days after the mailing date of the sanction notice. ([ (a) The client or the person who transferred
the resources has exhausted all reasonable [ (b) Application of the sanction for a
transfer of resources would deprive the client of medical care such that the
client's life or health would be endangered, or would deprive the client of
food, clothing, shelter or other necessities of life.[ (12) The Department bases its[ [ ] ([ ([
R414-305-7. Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Resource Provisions. (1) The resource limit is $2,000. (2) Following the initial month of eligibility, continued eligibility is determined by counting only the resources that belong to the client. (3) For married clients, spousal impoverishment resource rules apply as defined in R414-305-3.
R414-305-8. QMB, SLMB, and QI[ (1) The Department adopts Subsection 1905(p) of the Compilation of the Social Security Laws, 1999 ed., which is incorporated by reference. (2) The resource limit is the same for all medically needy individuals. (3) The QMB, SLMB, and QI[
KEY: Medicaid, eligibility Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: April 1, 2006 Notice of Continuation: January 31, 2003 Authorizing and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-18
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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PLEASE NOTE:
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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Ross Martin at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6592, by FAX at 801-538-6099, or by Internet E-mail at rmartin@utah.gov For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is NOT able to answer questions about the content or application of these administrative rules. |
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| [ 04/15/2006 Bulletin Table of Contents / Bulletin Page ] | |
| Last modified: 10/01/2009 12:47 PM | |