WSR 10-11-110

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)

[ Filed May 18, 2010, 1:50 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 10-02-095 and 10-08-080.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-424-0009 Citizenship and alien status -- Social Security number (SSN) requirements and 388-424-0010 Citizenship and alien status -- Eligibility restrictions for TANF, nonemergency medicaid, and SCHIP.

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Auditorium, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on July 6, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than July 7, 2010.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on July 6, 2010.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by June 22, 2010, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These rules are necessary in order to comply with recently passed federal legislation pertaining to the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and Section 8120, Title VIII, Division A of Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 2010 which was signed into law on December 19, 2009, and became Public Law 111-118. The amendments include adding certain PRUCOL (permanently residing under color of law) aliens in the group eligible for pregnancy medical and children's medical; and updating eligibility for assistance for special immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan. Special immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan are now eligible for sixty months of federally-funded assistance. The department is also updating and clarifying current language including adding apple health for kids and renaming state children's health insurance program (SCHIP) as children's health insurance program (CHIP).

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Compliance with federal regulations is required to continue to receive federal funding.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090; CHIPRA of 2009, Public Law 111-3, Section 214; Section 8120, Title VIII, Division A of Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-118.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, CHIPRA of 2009, Public Law 111-3, Section 214; Section 8120, Title VIII, Division A of Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-118.

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

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Kathy Sayre, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, (360) 725-1342; Implementation and Enforcement: Kathy Johansen, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, (360) 725-1321.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The rule change does not impact small businesses. The preparation of a comprehensive small business economic impact statement is not required.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Client eligibility rules for medical assistance are exempt from the cost-benefit analysis requirement per RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).

May 13, 2010

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

4185.5
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-15-004, filed 7/7/04, effective 8/7/04)

WAC 388-424-0009   Citizenship and alien status -- Social Security number (SSN) requirements.   (1) A "qualified alien," as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, who has applied for a Social Security number (SSN) as part of their application for benefits cannot have benefits delayed, denied, or terminated pending the issuance of the SSN by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

     (2) The following immigrants are not required to apply for an SSN:

     (a) An alien, regardless of immigration status, who is applying for a program listed in WAC 388-476-0005(7);

     (b) A PRUCOL (permanently residing under color of law) alien ((as defined in WAC 388-424-0001)) who is not in one of the PRUCOL groups listed in WAC 388-424-0010(4); and

     (c) Members of a household who are not applying for benefits for themselves.

     (3) "Qualified aliens," as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, and PRUCOL aliens in any of the PRUCOL groups listed in WAC 388-424-0010(4), who are applying for federal benefits but who are not authorized to work in the U.S., must still apply for a nonwork SSN. The department must assist them in this application without delay.

     (4) An immigrant who is otherwise eligible for benefits may choose not to provide the department with an SSN without jeopardizing the eligibility of others in the household. See WAC 388-450-0140 for how the income of such individuals is treated.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-004, § 388-424-0009, filed 7/7/04, effective 8/7/04.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-15-082, filed 7/14/09, effective 8/14/09)

WAC 388-424-0010   Citizenship and alien status -- Eligibility ((restrictions)) for TANF, ((nonemergency)) medicaid, and ((SCHIP)) CHIP.   (1) To receive temporary assistance for needy families(TANF), ((nonemergency)) medicaid, or ((SCHIP)) children's health insurance program (CHIP) benefits, ((you)) an individual must meet all other eligibility requirements and be one of the following as defined in WAC 388-424-0001:

     (a) A United States (U.S.) citizen;

     (b) A U.S. national;

     (c) An American Indian born outside the U.S.;

     (d) A "qualified alien";

     (e) A victim of trafficking; or

     (f) A Hmong or Highland Lao((; or

     (g) A special immigrant from Iraq or Afghanistan eligible for eight months of federally funded assistance from your date of entry into the United States or from the date you received special immigrant status)).

     (2) A "qualified alien" who first physically entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996 as described in WAC 388-424-0006(1) may receive TANF, ((nonemergency)) medicaid, and ((SCHIP)) CHIP.

     (3) A "qualified alien" who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, ((nonemergency)) medicaid, or ((SCHIP)) CHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless((:

     (a) He or she is an alien as described in WAC 388-424-0006(4); or

     (b) He or she is an alien as described in WAC 388-424-0006(5) applying for nonemergency medicaid or SCHIP)) the criteria in WAC 388-424-0006 (4) or (5) are met.

     (4) A child or pregnant woman in one of the following PRUCOL (permanently residing under color of law) groups may receive medicaid or CHIP:

     (a) A citizen of a compact of free association state (Micronesia, Marshall Islands or Palau) who has been admitted to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant;

     (b) An individual in temporary resident status as an amnesty beneficiary;

     (c) An individual in temporary protected status;

     (d) A family unity beneficiary;

     (e) An individual currently under deferred enforced departure;

     (f) An individual who is a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen with an approved Visa petition pending adjustment of status;

     (g) A parent or child of an individual with special immigration status;

     (h) A fiance of a U.S. citizen;

     (i) A religious worker;

     (j) An individual assisting the Department of Justice in a criminal investigation; or

     (k) An individual with a petition of status pending of three years or longer.

     (5) An alien who is ineligible for TANF, medicaid or CHIP because of the five-year bar or because of their immigration status may be eligible for:

     (a) Emergency benefits as described in WAC 388-436-0015 (consolidated emergency assistance program) and WAC 388-438-0110 (alien ((emergency)) medical program); or

     (b) State-funded cash or chemical dependency benefits as described in WAC 388-424-0015 (state family assistance (SFA), general assistance (GA) and the alcohol and drug addiction treatment and support act (ADATSA)), and medical benefits as described in WAC 388-424-0016; or

     (c) Pregnancy medical benefits as described in WAC 388-462-0015; or

     (d) ((Children's healthcare benefits)) Apple health for kids as described in WAC 388-505-0210 (2) or (5).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and P.L. No. 111-3 (H.R. 2, Title II, Sec. 214 - Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009); P.L. No. 111-08 Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, Office of Refugee Resettlement State Letter #09-17. 09-15-082, § 388-424-0010, filed 7/14/09, effective 8/14/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.320, 74.08.090, and Public Law 110-161 Section 525; Public Law 110-181 Section 1244; FNS Admin Notice 08-17; State Letter 04-12 from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 08-14-116, § 388-424-0010, filed 6/30/08, effective 8/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and 74.09.415. 05-23-013, § 388-424-0010, filed 11/4/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-004, § 388-424-0010, filed 7/7/04, effective 8/7/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. 02-17-030, § 388-424-0010, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and Public Law 106-395. 02-03-008, § 388-424-0010, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.08A.100. 99-17-023, § 388-424-0010, filed 8/10/99, effective 9/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-424-0010, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0520 and 388-518-1805.]

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