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317:35-17-11. Determining financial eligibility for ADvantage program services

[Revised 06-25-12]

Financial eligibility for individuals in ADvantage program services is determined according to whether or not a spouse remains in the home.

(1) Individual without a spouse. For an individual without a spouse, the following rules are used to determine financial eligibility.

(A) Income eligibility. To determine the income of the individual, the rules in (i) through (iii) of this subparagraph apply.

(i) If payment of income is made to the individual and another person(s), the income is considered in proportion to the individual's interest.

(ii) If a legal instrument exists which specifies terms of payment, income is considered according to the terms of the instrument.

(iii) After determination of income, the gross income of the individual cannot exceed the categorically needy standard in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. B. 1., to be eligible for ADvantage services. If the individual's gross income exceeds that standard, refer to SoonerCare rules for establishing a Medicaid Income Pension Trust [OAC 317:35-5-41.6(a)(6)(B)].

(B) Resource eligibility. In order for an individual without a spouse to be eligible for ADvantage services, his/her countable resources cannot exceed the maximum resource standard for an individual listed in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. D.

(C) Vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who live in a house, an apartment, or other independent living setting, there is not a spenddown calculation as the member does not pay a vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who reside in an ADvantage Assisted Living Services Center, a vendor payment must be computed if the income exceeds 150% of the federal benefit rate. The member is responsible for payment to the Assisted Living Services Center provider for days of service from the first day of each month in which services have been received until the vendor payment obligation is met.

(D) Equity in capital resources. If the equity in the individual's capital resources is in excess of the maximum resource standards, certification is delayed up to 30 days providing plans are made for the applicant to utilize the excess resource. Certification is made at the point the excess resources have been exhausted, with the effective date of certification being shown as the date on which the resources came within the standard. If the excess capital resources can not reasonably be expected to come within standards in one month, the application is denied.

(2) Individual with a spouse who receives ADvantage or HCBW/MR services, or is institutionalized in a NF or ICF/MR, or is 65 or over and in a mental health hospital. For an individual with a spouse who receives ADvantage or HCBW/MR services, or is institutionalized in a NF or ICF/MR, or is 65 or over and in a mental health hospital, resources are determined for each individual as the amount owned by each individual plus one-half of the jointly owned resources of the couple. Once this separation of assets is made, a resource of either spouse is not considered available to the other during the receipt of ADvantage program services.

(A) Income eligibility. Income is determined separately for an individual and his/her spouse if the spouse is in the ADvantage or HCBW/MR program, or is institutionalized in a NF or ICF/MR, or is 65 or older and in a mental health hospital. The income of either spouse is not considered as available to the other during the receipt of ADvantage services. The rules in (i) - (v) of this subparagraph apply in this situation:

(i) If payment of income is made solely to one or the other, the income is considered available only to that individual.

(ii) If payment of income is made to both, one-half is considered for each individual.

(iii) If payment of income is made to either one or both and another person(s), the income is considered in proportion to either spouse's interest (if payment is to that spouse) or one-half of the joint interest if no interest is specified.

(iv) If a legal instrument exists which specifies terms of payment, income is considered according to the terms of the instrument.

(v) After determination of income, the gross income of the individual cannot exceed the categorically needy standard in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. B. 1., to be eligible for ADvantage services. If the individual's gross income exceeds this standard, refer to SoonerCare rules for establishing a Medicaid Income Pension Trust [OAC 317:35-5-41.6(a)(6)(B)].

(B) Resource eligibility. In order for an individual with a spouse who receives ADvantage or HCBW/MR services, or is institutionalized in a NF or ICF/MR, or is 65 or older and in a mental health hospital to be eligible for ADvantage services, his/her countable resources cannot exceed the maximum resource standard for an individual listed in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. D.

(C) Vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who live in a house, an apartment, or other independent living setting, there is not a spenddown calculation as the member does not pay a vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who reside in an ADvantage Assisted Living Services Center, a vendor payment must be computed if the income exceeds 150% of the federal benefit rate. The member is responsible for payment to the Assisted Living Services Center provider for days of service from the first day of each month in which services have been received until the vendor payment obligation is met.

(D) Equity in capital resources. If the equity in the individual's capital resources is in excess of the maximum resource standards, certification is delayed up to 30 days providing plans are made for the applicant to utilize the excess resource. Certification is made at the point the excess resources have been exhausted, with the effective date of certification being shown as the date on which the resources came within the standard. If the excess capital resources can not reasonably be expected to come within standards in one month, the application is denied.

(3) Individual with a spouse in the home who is not in the ADvantage or HCBW/MR program. When only one individual of a couple in their own home is in the ADvantage or HCBW/MR program, income and resources are determined separately. However, the income and resources of the individual who is not in the ADvantage or HCBW/MR program (community spouse) must be included on the application form. At redetermination of eligibility, the community spouse's income must be included in the review process. During any month that the individual is in ADvantage program services, the income of the community spouse is not considered available to that individual. The following rules are used to determine the income and resources of each:

(A) Income eligibility. To determine the income of both spouses, the rules in (i) - (v) of this subparagraph apply.

(i) If payment of income is made solely to one or the other, the income is considered available only to that individual.

(ii) If payment of income is made to both, one-half is considered for each individual.

(iii) If payment of income is made to either one or both and another person(s), the income is considered in proportion to either spouse's interest (if payment is to that spouse) or one-half of the joint interest if no interest is specified.

(iv) If a legal instrument exists which specifies terms of payment, income is considered according to the terms of the instrument.

(v) After determination of income, the gross income of the individual in the ADvantage program services cannot exceed the categorically needy standard in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. B. 1., to be eligible for care. If the individual's gross income exceeds this standard, refer to SoonerCare rules for establishing a Medicaid Income Pension Trust [OAC 317:35-5-41.6(a)(6)(B)].

(B) Resource eligibility. To determine resource eligibility, it is necessary to determine the amount of resources for both spouses for the month of the individual's application for the ADvantage program. Of the resources available to the couple (both individual and joint ownership) an amount will be protected for the community spouse which will not be considered available to the spouse receiving ADvantage program services. The amount determined as the spousal share is used for all subsequent applications for SoonerCare, regardless of changes in the couple's resources. The protected spousal share cannot be changed for any reason. 

(i) The first step in the assessment process is to establish the total amount of resources for the couple during the month of application of the spouse into the ADvantage program services (regardless of payment source).

(ii) The community spouse's share is equal to one-half of the total resources of the couple not to exceed the maximum amount of resource value that can be protected for the community spouse, as shown on OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule XI.

(iii) The minimum resource standard for the community spouse, as established by the OHCA, is found on OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule XI. When the community spouse's share is less than the minimum standard, an amount may be deemed from the other spouse's share to ensure the minimum resource standard for the community spouse. If the community spouse's share equals or exceeds the minimum resource standard, deeming cannot be done.

(iv) If deeming is necessary to meet the minimum resource standard for the community spouse, the amount that is deemed must be legally transferred to the community spouse within one year of the effective date of certification for SoonerCare. At the first redetermination of eligibility, the worker must document that the resources have been transferred. After the first year of SoonerCare eligibility, resources of the community spouse will not be available to the other spouse and resources cannot be deemed to the community spouse.

(v) After the month in which the institutionalized spouse and community spouse have met the resource standard and the institutionalized spouse is determined eligible for benefits, no resources of the community spouse, regardless of value, will be considered available to the institutionalized spouse. If the resources of the community spouse grow to exceed the original deemed amount, the State cannot require the community spouse to apply any of these excess resources toward the cost of the care of the institutionalized spouse.

(vi) When determining eligibility for SoonerCare, the community spouse's share of resources is protected and the remainder considered available to the spouse receiving ADvantage program services.

(vii) The resources determined in (i) - (vi) of this subparagraph for the individual receiving ADvantage program services cannot exceed the maximum resource standard for an individual as shown in OKDHS form 08AX001E, Schedule VIII. D.

(viii) Once the dollar value of the community spouse's share of resources is established for the month of the other spouse's entry into the ADvantage program service, that amount is used when determining resource eligibility for a subsequent SoonerCare application for Long-Term Care for either spouse.

(ix) Once a determination of eligibility for SoonerCare is made, either spouse is entitled to a fair hearing. A fair hearing regarding the determination of the community spouse's resource allowance is held within 30 days of the date of the request for the hearing. Either spouse is entitled to a fair hearing if dissatisfied with a determination of:

(I) the community spouse's monthly income allowance;

(II) the amount of monthly income otherwise available to the community spouse;

(III) determination of the spousal share of resource;

(IV) the attribution of resources (amount deemed); or

(V) the determination of the community spouse's resource allowance.

(x) The rules on determination of income and resources are applicable only when an individual receiving ADvantage program services is likely to remain under care for 30 consecutive days. The 30-day requirement is considered to have been met even if a hospital stay interrupts it or the individual is deceased before the 30-day period ends.

(C) Vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who live in a house, an apartment, or other independent living setting, there is not a spenddown calculation as the member does not pay a vendor payment. For individuals in the ADvantage program who reside in an ADvantage Assisted Living Services Center, after allowable deeming to the community spouse, a vendor payment must be computed if the income exceeds 150% of the federal benefit rate. The member is responsible for payment to the Assisted Living Services Center provider for days of service from the first day of each month in which services have been received until the vendor payment obligation is met.

(D) Excess resources. If the equity in the individual's capital resources is in excess of the maximum resource standards, certification is delayed up to 30 days providing plans are made for the applicant to utilize the excess resource. Certification is made at the point the excess resources have been exhausted, with the effective date of certification being shown as the date on which the resources came within the standard. If the excess capital resources cannot reasonably be expected to come within standards in one month, the application is denied.

Disclaimer. The OHCA rules found on this Web site are unofficial. The official rules are published by the Oklahoma Secretary of State Office of Administrative Rules as Title 317 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. To order an official copy of these rules, contact the Office of Administrative Rules at (405) 521-4911.