Section 250. Definitions

Part III. HIV Premium Assistance Program

"Appeal" means the process by which an applicant or enrollee in the HIV Premium Assistance Program can obtain a review of a decision, action, or failure to act on the part of the program.

"Applicant" means an individual who has applied for or is in the process of applying for HIV Premium Assistance Program benefits.

"Applicant's representative" means a person who, because of the applicant's or enrollee's mental or physical incapacity or standing as a child, is permitted to act, complete, sign, or withdraw an application for the benefits of the program; activate the appeal process; and otherwise supply any information requested by the program on behalf of the applicant or enrollee.

"Child" means an unmarried person younger than 18 years of age and who lives with a parent or legal guardian.

"Date of application" means the date that an application is officially received by the program.

"Department" or "DMAS" means the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services which has administrative authority and responsibility for the program.

"Enrollee" means an individual who has been determined to be eligible for and is receiving assistance from the program.

"Family" means:

1. The applicant or enrollee,

2. The applicant or enrollee's spouse,

3. The applicant's or enrollee's children who are under 21 years if the children live with the applicant,

4. When the applicant or enrollee is a child:

a. The applicant's parent or parents,

b. The minor applicant's unmarried siblings under 21 years, at the option of the applicant's or enrollee's parents.

"Group health insurance plan" means a plan which meets § 5000(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, includes continuation coverage pursuant to Title XXII of the Public Health Services Act, § 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or Title VI of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and is consistent with the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Public Law 99-272 and any subsequent modifications to the Act. Section 5000(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that a group health plan is any plan of, or contributed to by, an employer (including a self-insured plan) to provide health care (directly or otherwise) to the employer's employees, former employees, or the families of such employees or former employees.

"Health insurance premiums" or "premiums" means the health insurance premiums paid by or on behalf of an individual in order to obtain or maintain health insurance plan benefits.

"HIV positive" means a positive diagnosis of infection with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) as determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by the Western Blot, or another generally accepted diagnostic test for HIV infection.

"HIV Premium Assistance Program" or "the program" means the Virginia program that provides payment of health insurance premiums under certain circumstances to individuals who are HIV positive, in accordance with the provision of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Public Law 99-272 and any subsequent modifications to the Act and as authorized by § 32.1-330.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Medicaid" means the state-federal medical assistance program of comprehensive medical and other health-related care for indigent and medically indigent persons authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act and administered by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.

"Nongroup health insurance plan" means a health insurance plan that is offered to an individual or an individual family unit without being tied to an employer.

"Physician verification" means certification by a licensed physician of medical information regarding an applicant's or enrollee's HIV positive status and inability to work due to the disease or the substantial likelihood that within three months the individual will be too ill to continue working.

"Poverty level" means the official federal poverty income level, as revised annually.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 13, Issue 15, eff. June 1, 1997.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-325 and 32.1-330.1 of the Code of Virginia.