305.1 General Policy

Reviewing for SSI-Related Medical Assistance (MA) when MG 91 and MG 90D Recipients Turn 65 Years Old , PMN19658305 (Revised October 9, 2019)

Medical Review Team (MRT) Disability Determinations , PMN19579-305 (Published August 16, 2019)

Individuals Receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Budget Categories, PMN19521489 (Revised August 13, 2019)

MG 18 C Closure Prior to Renewal, PMG19337305 (Published April 4, 2019)

Reviewing for Medical Assistance (MA) when General Assistance (GA) Cash Closes, PMG19272305 (Published February 19, 2019)

Reviewing Medical Assistance (MA) when General Assistance (GA) Cash Budgets Close, PMA19190305 (Published November 26, 2018)

Medical Assistance Program Changes due to the Introduction of Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, OPS160305 (Published March 10, 2016)

Reinstatement of Medically-Needy Only (MNO) for Non-pregnant Adults Aged 21 through 64, OPS160301 (Published March 7, 2016)

 

 

The County Assistance Office (CAO) must determine which category and program each Medical Assistance (MA) applicant or recipient belongs in. The program is based on the individual’s income and resources. The category for which the applicant or recipient is qualified affects how income and resources are treated.

55 Pa. Code § 178.11
55 Pa. Code 178.12

NOTE:  The following categories are non-medical assistance (MA) categories:

These categories are entered into e-CIS by the appropriate program office for billing purposes only.  Individuals enrolled in these categories do not have medical assistance benefits.  CAO staff is not able to update these cases.

Individuals may apply for and receive Cash, SNAP or MA benefits if the individual is non-financially and financially eligible.  If an individual is found eligible for Cash, SNAP or MA , the benefits must be authorized in a new e-CIS case record number.

305.11 MA Categories

     Public Law 106-170   Act 2001-77 (P. L. 755)

 

 PMC17977317    Evaluating Eligibility for BCCPT (PH 20), April 21, 2016

  

   Public Law 106-354

305.12 MA Category Criteria

The category of MA is based on the following criteria, which are not related to money or income (non-financial):

      Public Law 106-354

305.13 MA Budget Groups

The category of MA identifies a budget group. Each member of the budget group is eligible for the same category. An applicant/recipient group may include one or several budget groups. Separate budget groups may be set up for members of the applicant/recipient group, even if they qualify for the same category.

305.14 Types of MA

Two types of MA benefits are available:

Exception: PG identifies a Healthy Horizons Medicare Cost-Sharing recipient.

Exception: MNO categories TA and TJ with program status codes 65 or 67 are used to identify the Medicare Savings Programs. The only benefit of these categories is the payment of monthly Medicare premiums. These individuals do not receive MNO MA benefits or a Pennsylvania ACCESS Card.

NOTE:  To identify individuals who receive NMP/MNO and live in a Long Term Care (LTC) facility, the letter “N” is added after the category.

NOTE:  To identify individuals who receive NMP/MNO and receive home and community-based services, the letter “W” is added after the category.

The CAO must determine whether someone is eligible for NMP before determining eligibility for MNO. The CAO must provide the coverage that best meets the medical needs of the individual. The CAO must explain the benefits of each type of coverage and let the individual choose the type that will best meet his or her needs.

 

Within MA, a category is assigned. Individuals who are applying together, even if the CAO determines they are in the same applicant/recipient group, may not always qualify for the same category. The CAO must determine each individual’s category separately.

 

The CAO must first determine eligibility for SSI-related categories and then for TANF-related categories. The CAO must assign the GA-related category only if the individual does not meet the requirements for an SSI-related or TANF-related category.

Exception: When determining eligibility for NMP for the Family (NMPF), all immediate family members (including SSI-related/Healthy Horizons individuals) must be included in the eligibility determination. If the family is found to be eligible, any SSI-related/Healthy Horizons–eligible family members must be opened in the appropriate SSI-related/Healthy Horizons category. If the family is not eligible for NMPF, one individual’s eligibility can be established by the removal of SSI-related/Healthy Horizons individuals from the eligibility determination.

The automated process for determining MA eligibility will review eligibility in the following order for MA applicants, MA recipients, and TANF recipients who are to stop receiving benefits:

1. Presumptive eligibility for pregnant woman.

2. Foster care/adoption subsidy.

3.Long-term care (LTC) facility and home and community-based services (HCBS).

4. Extended NMP special circumstances (MEH 387.6).

5. Refugee unaccompanied minor.

6. Healthy Horizons.

7. SSI-related NMP.

8. NMP for the Family (NMPF).

9. Extended MA Coverage (EMC).

10. Refugee MA (RMA)—Non-SSI/non-pregnant.

11. TANF and GA-related NMP.

12. Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment (BCCPT).                                                                                                                                        

        Public Law 106-354

13. Income-ineligible pregnant woman.

14. MA for workers with disabilities (MAWD).                                                                                                                                                                                       

   Public Law 106-170   Act 2001-77 (P. L. 755)

NOTE:  Be sure to enter the appropriate code in the MAWD request field on CADISB in order for the cascade to review for MAWD eligibility.

15. Home and community-based services for individuals with AIDS or symptomatic HIV.

16. SSI-related, TANF-related, and GA-related MNO.

17. Income-ineligible newborn.

18. RMA—family with children.

19. SSI-ineligible children (PJ 98).

20. Children with Special Needs (PH 95).

21. Healthy Horizons cost-sharing.

22. Medicare Buy-In (payment of monthly Medicare premiums).

23. Prison inmate—children.

24. SelectPlan for Women.

NOTE:  See Appendix E for the entire MA cascade
.

If an individual meets the eligibility requirements for both SSI-related and TANF-related categories of MA, the CAO must approve the category of MA that:

 

Updated August 19, 2019,  Replacing August 30, 2018