WSR 00-18-099

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Aging and Adult Services Administration)

[ Filed September 5, 2000, 3:47 p.m. ]

Date of Adoption: September 5, 2000.

Purpose: Amending these rules for home and community programs is necessary to correct wording and to clarify the intent. It eliminates redundant language, replacing with WAC references and clarifies policies on participation requirements for SSI, SSI-related, and GA-X clients.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-71-0445, 388-71-0470, and 388-71-0480.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.09.520, 74.09.530, 74.39A.110, [74.39A.]120, [74.39A.]130, and section 205 (1)(c), chapter 346, Laws of 1998, and RCW 74.39A.030.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-12-035 on May 30, 2000.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

September 5, 2000

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

2722.5
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-04-056, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00)

WAC 388-71-0445
Am I eligible for Chore-funded services?

To be eligible for Chore-funded services, you must:

     (1) Be eighteen years of age or older;

     (2) Require assistance with at least one of the direct personal care tasks listed in WAC 388-15-202(17);

     (3) Not be eligible for MPC or COPES, Medicare home health or other programs if these programs can meet your needs;

     (4) Have net household income (as described in WAC 388-450-0005, 388-450-0015, and 388-450-0210) not exceeding:

     (a) The sum of the cost of your chore services, and

     (b) One-hundred percent of the FPL adjusted for family size.

     (5) Have resources, as described in chapter 388-470 WAC, which does not exceed ten thousand dollars for a one-person family or fifteen thousand dollars for a two-person family. (Note: One thousand dollars for each additional family member may be added to these limits.)

     (6) Not transfer assets on or ((before)) after November 1, 1995 for less than fair market value as described in WAC 388-513-1365.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.39A.110, 74.39A.150.      00-04-056, § 388-71-0445, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-04-056, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00)

WAC 388-71-0470
Who pays for HCP services?

Depending on your income and resources, you may be required to pay participation toward the cost of your care.      The department determines exactly what amount, if any, you pay.      If you are receiving:

     (1) COPES in-home ((services)) or residential,

     (a) You participate income ((above the Medically needy income level (MNIL) or Federal Poverty Level (FPL) directly to the service provider.)) per rules in WAC 388-515-1505;

     (b) ((You pay the person providing the highest level of care or multiple providers, so long as the amount authorized for services is greater than the participation amount.

     (c))) If you have nonexempt income that exceeds the cost of COPES services, you may retain the difference((.

     (d) Rules regarding COPES in-home participation are found in WAC 388-515-1505)).

     (2) MPC in-home services, you do not participate toward the cost of your personal care services.

     (3) MPC services in a residential setting and you are:

     (a) An SSI beneficiary who receives only SSI income, you only pay for board and room. You are allowed to keep a personal allowance of at least thirty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents.

     (b) An SSI beneficiary who receives SSI and SSA benefits, you only pay for board and room. You are allowed to keep a personal allowance of at least fifty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents.

     (c) An SSI-related person per WAC 388-511-1105, you may be required to participate towards the cost of your personal care services in addition to your board and room if your financial eligibility is based on the facility's state contracted rate plus add-on hours. You will receive a personal allowance of fifty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents.

     (d) A GA-X client in a residential care facility, you are allowed to keep a personal allowance of thirty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents only. The remainder of your grant must be paid to the facility.

     (4) Chore services, you may retain an amount equal to one hundred percent of the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size, as the home maintenance allowance and pay the difference between the FPL and your nonexempt income (((as defined in WAC 388-513-1340) to your provider.

     (4) COPES residential services, you pay toward the cost of your room, board, personal care services, and health insurance premiums.      You may retain a fifty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents clothing and personal incidental allowance (CPI) and pay any remaining MNIL income up to the residential facility rate for the cost of room and board.      HCFA does not allow COPES clients the twenty dollar disregard.      Rules regarding COPES residential participation are found in WAC 388-515-1505.

     (5) MPC residential services, and you are:

     (a) An SSI or SSI-related Medicaid recipient you participate income toward the room and board only.      You are guaranteed a personal allowance of at least thirty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents a month; or

     (b) A non-SSI client and become SSI or SSI-related because the cost of your care in the facility exceeds your income, you may be required to participate towards the cost of your room, board, personal care services, and health insurance premiums. You will receive a personal allowance of fifty-eight dollars and eighty-four cents a month)). Exempt income includes:

     (a) Income listed in WAC 388-513-1340;

     (b) Spousal income allocated and actually paid as participation in the cost of the spouse's community options program entry system (COPES) services;

     (c) Amounts paid for medical expenses not subject to third party payment;

     (d) Health insurance premiums, coinsurance or deductible charges; and

     (e) If applicable, those work expense deductions listed as WAC 388-71-480(2).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.39A.120, 74.39.010, 74.39.020.      00-04-056, § 388-71-0470, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-04-056, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00)

WAC 388-71-0480
If I am employed, can I still receive HCP services?

If you are disabled, as determined under WAC 388-511-1105, you may be employed and still be eligible to receive HCP services.

     (1) If you remain Medicaid eligible under the categorically needy program, you are financially eligible for MPC services.

     (2) If you are not Medicaid eligible due to your earned income and resources, you may be eligible to receive chore personal care services.

     (a) You may be required to pay participation per WAC ((388-71-0465(3))) 388-71-0470(4) for any earned income above one hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

     (b) The department will exempt fifty percent of your earned income after work expense deductions.      Work expense deductions are:

     (i) Personal work expenses in the form of self-employment taxes (FICA); and income taxes when paid;

     (ii) Payroll deductions required by law or as a condition of employment in the amounts actually withheld;

     (iii) The necessary cost of transportation to and from the place of employment by the most economical means, except rental cars;

     (iv) Expenses necessary for continued employment such as tools, materials, union dues, transportation to service customers is not furnished by the employer; and

     (v) Uniforms needed on the job and not suitable for wear away from the job((;

     (vi) Spousal income allocated and actually paid as participation in the cost of the spouse's community options program entry system (COPES) services;

     (vii) Amounts paid for medical expenses not subject to third-party payment; and

     (viii) Health insurance premiums, coinsurance or deductible charges)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.39A.140, 74.39A.150.      00-04-056, § 388-71-0480, filed 1/28/00, effective 2/28/00.]

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