OHCA Policies and Rules

317:35-5-4. Determining categorical relationship to the disabled

[Revised 09-12-22]

An individual is related to disability if he/she is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted (or can be expected to last) for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

(1) Determination of categorical relationship to the disabled by Social Security Administration (SSA). The procedures outlined in (A) through (G) of this paragraph are applicable when determining categorical relationship based on a SSA disability decision:

(A) Already determined eligible for Social Security disability benefits. If the applicant states he/she is already receiving Social Security benefits on the basis of disability, the information is verified by seeing the applicant's notice of award or the Social Security benefit check. If the applicant states an award letter approving Social Security disability benefits has been received but a check has not been received, this information is verified by seeing the award letter. Such award letter or check establishes categorical relationship. The details of the verification used are recorded in the case record.

(B) Already determined eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on disability. If the applicant, under age sixty-five (65), states he/she is already receiving SSI on the basis of his/her disability (or that a written notice of SSI eligibility on disability has been received but has not yet received a check) this information is verified by seeing the written notice or check. If neither are available, the county clears on the terminal system for the Supplemental Data Exchange (SDX) record. The SDX record shows, on the terminal, whether the individual has been approved or denied for SSI. If the individual has been approved for such benefits, the county uses this terminal clearance to establish disability for categorical relationship. The details of the verification used are recorded in the case record.

(C) Pending SSI/SSA application or has never applied for SSI. If the applicant says he/she has a pending SSI/SSA application, an SDX record may not appear on the terminal. Therefore, it is requested that the applicant bring the notice regarding the action taken on his/her SSI/SSA application to the county office as soon as it is received. The other conditions of eligibility are established while awaiting the SSI/SSA decision. When the SSI/SSA notice is presented, the details of the verification are recorded in the case record and the indicated action is taken on the Title XIX application. If the applicant says he/she has never applied for SSI/SSA but appears potentially eligible from the standpoint of unearned income and has an alleged disability which would normally be expected to last for a period of twelve (12) months, he/she is referred to the SSA office to make SSI/SSA application immediately following the filing of the Title XIX application.

(D) Already determined ineligible for SSI. If the applicant says he/she has been determined ineligible for SSI, the written notice of ineligibility from SSA is requested to determine if the denial was based on failure to meet the disability definition. If the SSI notice shows ineligibility was due to not meeting the disability definition, and the applicant says the medical condition has not worsened since the SSI denial, the Title XIX application is denied for the same reason. If written notice is not available, the SDX record on the terminal system is used. This record shows whether the individual has been determined eligible or ineligible for SSI. If he/she has been determined ineligible, the payment status code for ineligibility is shown. The definition of this code is found on OKDHS Appendix Q in order to determine the reason for SSI ineligibility. If the reason for SSI ineligibility was based on failure to meet the disability definition, the Title XIX application is denied for the same reason and the details of the verification are recorded in the case record. If the reason for SSI ineligibility was based on some reason other than failure to meet the disability definition (and therefore, a determination of disability was not made), the Level of Care Evaluation Unit (LOCEU) must determine categorical relationship. In any instance in which an applicant who was denied SSI on "disability" states the medical condition has worsened since the SSI denial, he/she is referred to the SSA office to reapply for SSI immediately following the filing of the Title XIX application.

(E) Already determined ineligible for Social Security disability benefits. If the applicant says he/she has been determined ineligible for Social Security disability benefits, he/she is requested to provide written notice of ineligibility to determine if the denial was based on failure to meet the disability definition. If the SSA notice shows ineligibility was due to not meeting the disability definition, and the applicant says the medical condition has not worsened since the denial, the Title XIX application is denied for the same reason. The details of the verification used are recorded in the case record. If the written notice is not available, third party query procedure (TPQY) is used to verify the denial and the reason for ineligibility. If the reason for ineligibility was based on failure to meet the disability definition, the Title XIX application is denied for the same reason and the details of the verification are recorded in the case record. If the reason for ineligibility was based on some reason other than failure to meet the disability definition (and a determination of disability was, thus, not made), the LOCEU must determine categorical relationship. In any instance in which an applicant who was denied Social Security benefits on disability states the medical condition has worsened since the denial, he/she is referred to the SSA office to reapply immediately following the filing of the Title XIX application.

(F) Determined retroactively eligible for SSA/SSI due to appeal. If an individual becomes retroactively eligible for SSA/SSI due to a decision on an appeal, categorical relationship is established as of the effective date of the retroactive disability decision. Payment will be made for medical services only if the claim is received timely, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 317:30-3-11. After the submission of a timely claim, a claim may be resubmitted, per OAC 317:30-3-11.1. If the effective date of the retroactive disability decision does not cover the period of the medical service because the SSA/SSI application was made subsequent to the service, a medical social summary with pertinent medical information is sent to the LOCEU for a categorical relationship decision for the time period of the medical service.

(G) SSA/SSI appeal with benefits continued. A Title XIX recipient who has filed an appeal due to SSA's determination that he/she is no longer disabled may continue to receive SSA benefits. The recipient has the option to have Title XIX benefits continued until the appeal decision has been reached. After the decision has been reached, the appropriate case action is taken. If SSA's decision is upheld, an overpayment referral is submitted for any Title XIX benefits the recipient received beginning with the month that SSA/SSI determined the recipient did not meet disability requirements.

(H) Applicant deceased. Categorical relationship to the disabled is automatically established if an individual dies while receiving a medical service or dies as a result of an illness for which he/she was hospitalized if death occurs within two (2) months after hospital release. The details of the verification used are recorded in the case record.

(2) Determination of categorical relationship to the disabled by the LOCEU.

(A) A disability decision from the LOCEU to determine categorical relationship to the disabled is required only when SSA makes a disability decision effective after medical services were received or when the SSA will not make a disability decision. The LOCEU is advised of the basis for the referral. SSA does not make disability decisions on individuals who:

(i) have been determined ineligible by SSA on some condition of eligibility other than disability,

(ii) have unearned income in excess of the SSI standard and, therefore, are not referred to SSA, or

(iii) do not have a disability which would normally be expected to last twelve (12) months but the applicant disagrees.

(B) A disability decision from the LOCEU is not required if the disability obviously will not last twelve (12) months and the individual agrees with the short term duration. The case record is documented to show the individual agrees with the short term duration.

(C) The local DHS office is responsible for submitting a medical social summary on DHS form ABCDM-80-D 08MA022E with pertinent medical information substantiating or explaining the individual's physical and mental condition. The medical social summary should include relevant social information such as the worker's personal observations, details of the individual's situation including date of onset of the disability, and the reason for the medical decision request. The worker indicates the beginning date for the categorical relationship to disability. Medical information submitted might include physical exam results, psychiatric, lab, and x-ray reports, hospital admission and discharge summaries, and/or doctors' notes and statements. Copies of medical and hospital bill and DHS Form 08MA005E are not normally considered pertinent medical information by themselves. Current (less than ninety (90) days old) medical information is required for the LOCEU to make a decision on the client's current disability status. If existing medical information cannot be obtained without cost to the client, the county administrator authorizes either payment for existing medical information or one general physical examination by a medical or osteopathic physician of the client's choice. The physician cannot be in an intern, residency or fellowship program of a medical facility, or in the full-time employment of Veterans Administration, Public Health Service or other Agency. Such examination is authorized by use of DHS form 08MA016E, Authorization for Examination and Billing. The DHS worker sends the 08MA016E and DHS form 08MA080E, Report of Physician's Examination, to the physician who will be completing the exam.

(3) Responsibility of Medical Review Team in the LOCEU. The responsibilities of the Medical Review Team in the LOCEU include:

(A) The decision as to whether the applicant is related to Aid to the Disabled.

(B) The effective date (month and year) of eligibility from the standpoint of disability. (This date may be retroactive for any medical service provided on or after the first day of the third month prior to the month in which the application was made.)

(D) When the LOCEU has made a determination of categorical relationship to disability and SSA later renders a different decision, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) uses the effective date of the SSA approval or denial as their date of disability approval or denial. No overpayment will occur based solely on the SSA denial superseding the LOCEU approval.

(E) Public Law 97-248, the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) of 1982, provides coverage to certain disabled children living in the home if they would qualify for Medicaid as residents of nursing facilities, ICF/IIDs, or inpatient acute care hospital stays expected to last not less than sixty (60) days. In addition to disability, LOCEU determines the appropriate level of care and cost effectiveness.

(4) Determination of categorical relationship to the disabled based on Tuberculosis (TB) infection. Categorical relationship to disability is established for individuals with a diagnosis of TB. An individual is related to disability for TB related services if he/she has verification of an active TB infection established by a medical practitioner.

(5) Determination of categorical relationship to the disabled for TEFRA. Section 134 of TEFRA allows states, at their option, to make Medicaid benefits available to children, under nineteen (19) years of age, living at home who are disabled as defined by the SSA, even though these children would not ordinarily be eligible for SSI benefits because of the deeming of parental income or resources. Under TEFRA, a child living at home who requires the level of care provided in an acute care hospital (for a minimum of sixty (60) days), nursing facility or intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, is determined eligible using only his/her income and resources as though he/she were institutionalized.

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.