Section 1160. Retroactive spenddown; countable income; entitlement date

A. Eligibility for retroactive Medicaid entitlement must be determined in all cases in which an individual reports receiving a Medicaid-covered service during the three-month period prior to the month of application, whether the individual is applying for Aid to Families with Dependent Children, auxiliary grant or Medicaid. Eligibility for retroactive coverage shall be determined at the same time as the ongoing eligibility is determined, using the same application.

B. The amount of countable income available to the applicant's family or budget unit is determined for the three-month period prior to application if none of the three months was included in a prior Medicaid coverage or spenddown period, and all other eligibility factors were met. Countable income for the period shall be applied to the appropriate income limit for the period (¼ the annual income limit).

If any of the months in the retroactive period were included in a previous coverage or spenddown period, those months cannot be included in the retroactive period. Only the income received in the retroactive months not included in previous periods are counted in determining retroactive eligibility. Countable income is applied to the appropriate income limit for the number of months actually included in the retroactive period.

C. When the retroactive spenddown is met by medical expenses incurred before the retroactive period, eligibility will begin the first day of the retroactive period.

When the retroactive spenddown is met be expenses incurred during the retroactive period, eligibility will begin the date the spenddown was met.

Eligibility will exist for the remainder of the retroactive period.

When the spenddown is not met, retroactive eligibility does not exist.

If an applicant states that a covered service was received in any one of the three retroactive months, eligibility is to be determined for all three retroactive months, regardless of the service date.

D. The Medicaid application shall be processed to determine both retroactive and prospective Medicaid eligibility beginning with the month of application. Notice of both determinations must be provided in written form to the applicant.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-10-8.2600 § 15, eff. April 30, 1995.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.