OHCA Policies and Rules

317:35-9-67. Determining financial eligibility of categorically needy individuals

[Revised 09-14-18]

Financial eligibility for ICF/MR, HCBW/MR, and individuals age 65 or older in mental health hospitals medical care for categorically needy individuals is determined as follows:

(1) Financial eligibility in a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) eligibility group. In determining financial eligibility for an individual related to a group for whom the MAGI methodology is used, rules in Subchapter 6 of this Chapter are followed.

(2) Financial eligibility/categorically related to ABD. In determining income and resources for the individual related to ABD, the "family" includes the individual and spouse, if any. To be categorically needy, the individual's countable income must be less than the categorically needy standard as shown on the OKDHS Appendix C-1, Schedule VI. If an individual and spouse cease to live together for reasons other than institutionalization, income and resources are considered available to each other through the month in which they are separated. Mutual consideration ceases with the month after the month in which the separation occurs. Any amounts which are actually contributed to the spouse after the mutual consideration has ended are considered. If the individual and spouse cease to live together because of the individual entering an ICF/MR, see OAC 317:35-9-68 (a)(3) to determine financial eligibility.

(A) The categorically needy standard on OKDHS Appendix C-1, Schedule VI, is applicable for individuals related to ABD. If the individual is in an ICF/MR and has received services for 30 days or longer, the categorically needy standard in OKDHS Appendix C-1, Schedule VIII. B., is used. If the individual leaves the facility prior to the 30 days, or does not require services past the 30 days, the categorically needy standard on OKDHS Appendix C-1, Schedule VI, is used. The rules on determination of income and resources are applicable only when an individual has entered an ICF/MR and is likely to remain under care for 30 consecutive days. The 30-day requirement is considered to have been met even if it is interrupted by a hospital stay or the individual is deceased before the 30-day period ends [Refer to OAC 317:35-9-68 (a)(3)(B)(x)]. An individual who is a patient in an extended care facility may have SSI continued for a three month period if he/she meets conditions described in Subchapter 5 of this Chapter. The continuation of the payments is intended for use of the member and does not affect the vendor payment. If the institutional stay exceeds the three month period, SSI will make the appropriate change.

(B) In determining eligibility for HCBW/MR services, refer to OAC 317:35-9-68(b).

(3) Transfer of capital resources on or before August 10, 1993. Individuals who have transferred capital resources on or before August 10, 1993 and are applying for or receiving NF, ICF/MR or HCBW/MR services are subject to penalty if the individual, the individual's spouse, the guardian, or legal representative of the individual or individual's spouse, disposes of resources for less than fair market value during the 30 months immediately prior to eligibility for SoonerCare if the individual is eligible at institutionalization. If the individual is not eligible for SoonerCare at institutionalization, the individual is subject to penalty if a resource was transferred during the 30 months immediately prior to the date of application for SoonerCare. Any subsequent transfer is also subject to this rule. When there have been multiple transfers of resources without commensurate return, all transferred resources are added together to determine the penalty period. The penalty consists of a period of ineligibility (whole number of months) determined by dividing the total uncompensated value of the resource by the average monthly cost to a private patient in a nursing facility in Oklahoma. The penalty period begins with the month the resource or resources were first transferred and cannot exceed 30 months. Uncompensated value is defined as the difference between the equity value and the amount received for the resource.

(A) However, the penalty would not apply if:

(i) The transfer was prior to July 1, 1988.

(ii) The title to the individual's home was transferred to:

(I) the spouse;

(II) the individual's child under age 21 or who is blind or totally disabled;

(III) a sibling who has equity interest in the home and resided in the home for at least one year prior to the individual's admission to the nursing facility; or

(IV) the individual's son or daughter who resided in the home and provided care for at least two years prior to the individual's admission to the nursing facility.

(iii) The individual can show satisfactorily that the intent was to dispose of resources at fair market value or that the transfer was for a purpose other than eligibility.

(iv) The transfer was to the community spouse or to another person for the sole benefit of the community spouse in an amount equal to the community spouse's resource allowance.

(v) The resource was transferred to the individual's child who is under 21 or who is blind or totally disabled.

(vi) The resource was transferred to the spouse (either community or institutionalized) or to another person for the sole benefit of the spouse if the resources are not subsequently transferred to still another person for less than fair market value.

(vii) The denial would result in undue hardship. Such determination should be referred to OKDHS State Office, FSSD, Health Related and Medical Services, for a decision.

(B) The individual is advised by a written notice of a period of ineligibility due to transfer of assets. The notice explains the period of ineligibility for payment of NF services and the continuance of eligibility for other SoonerCare services.

(C) The penalty period can be ended by either the resource being restored or commensurate return being made to the individual. The cost of care during the penalty period cannot be used to shorten or end the penalty period.

(D) Once the restoration or commensurate return is made, eligibility is redetermined considering the value of the restored resource or the amount of commensurate return.

(E) The restoration or commensurate return will not entitle the member to benefits for the period of time that the resource remained transferred. An applicant cannot be certified for NF, HCBW/MR, or ADvantage waiver services for a period of resource ineligibility.

(4) Transfer of assets on or after August 11, 1993 but before February 8, 2006. An institutionalized individual, an institutionalized individual's spouse, the guardian or legal representative of the individual or individual's spouse who disposes of assets on or after August 11, 1993 but before February 8, 2006 for less than fair market value on or after the look-back date specified in (A) of this paragraph subjects the individual to a penalty period for the disposal of such assets.

(A) For an institutionalized individual, the look-back date is 36 months before the first day the individual is both institutionalized and has applied for medical assistance. However, in the case of payments from a trust or portions of a trust that are treated as transfers of assets, the look-back date is 60 months.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an "institutionalized" individual is one who is residing in an ICF/MR or receiving HCBW/MR services.

(C) The penalty period begins the first day of the first month during which assets have been transferred and which does not occur in any other period of ineligibility due to an asset transfer. When there have been multiple transfers, all transferred assets are added together to determine the penalty.

(D) The penalty period consists of a period of ineligibility (whole number of months dropping any leftover portion) determined by dividing the total uncompensated value of the asset by the average monthly cost to a private patient in a nursing facility in Oklahoma. There is no limit to the length of the penalty period for these transfers. Uncompensated value is defined as the difference between the fair market value at the time of transfer less encumbrances and the amount received for the resource.

(E) Assets are defined as all income and resources of the individual and the individual's spouse, including any income or resources which the individual or such individual's spouse is entitled to but does not receive because of action:

(i) by the individual or such individual's spouse;

(ii) by a person, including a court or administrative body, with legal authority to act in place of or on behalf of the individual or such individual's spouse; or

(iii) by any person, including any court or administrative body acting at the direction or upon the request of the individual or such individual's spouse.

(F) A penalty would not apply if:

(i) the title to the individual's home was transferred to:

(I) the spouse;

(II) the individual's child under age 21 or who is blind or totally disabled as determined by Social Security;

(III) a sibling who has equity interest in the home and resided in the home for at least one year prior to the institutionalization of the individual; or

(IV) the individual's son or daughter who resided in the home and provided care for at least two years immediately prior to the individual's institutionalization;

(ii) the individual can show satisfactorily that the intent was to dispose of assets at fair market value or that the transfer was exclusively for a purpose other than eligibility. It is presumed that any transfer of assets made for less than fair market value was made in order to qualify the individual for SoonerCare. In order to rebut this presumption, the individual must present compelling evidence that a transfer was made for reasons other than to qualify for SoonerCare. It is not sufficient for an individual to claim that assets were transferred solely for the purposes of allowing another to have them with ostensibly no thought of SoonerCare if the individual qualifies for SoonerCare as a result of the transfer;

(iii) the transfer was to the community spouse or to another person for the sole benefit of the community spouse in an amount equal to the community spouse's asset allowance;

(iv) the asset was transferred to the individual's child who is blind or totally disabled as determined by Social Security. The transfer may be to a trust established for the benefit of the individual's child;

(vi) the asset is transferred to a trust established solely for the benefit of a disabled individual under the age of 65; or

(vii) the denial would result in undue hardship. Such determination should be referred to OKDHS State Office for a decision.

(G) The individual is advised by a written notice of a period of ineligibility due to transfer of assets. The notice explains the period of ineligibility for payment of ICF/MR or HCBW/MR services and the continuance of eligibility for other SoonerCare services.

(H) The penalty period can be ended by either all assets being restored or commensurate return being made to the individual.

(I) Once the restoration or commensurate return is made, eligibility is redetermined considering the value of the restored asset or the amount of commensurate return.

(J) The restoration or commensurate return will not entitle the member to benefits for the period of time that the asset remained transferred. An applicant cannot be certified for NF, ICF/MR, HCBW/MR, or ADvantage waiver services for a period of asset ineligibility.

(K) Assets which are held by an individual with another person or persons, whether held in joint tenancy or tenancy in common or similar arrangement, and the individual's ownership or control of the asset is reduced or eliminated is considered a transfer.

(L) When a transfer of assets by the spouse of an individual results in a period of ineligibility and the spouse who made such transfer subsequently becomes institutionalized, the period of ineligibility will be apportioned between the two institutionalized spouses.

(5) Transfer of assets on or after February 8, 2006. An institutionalized individual, an institutionalized individual's spouse, the guardian or legal representative of the individual or individual's spouse who disposes of assets on or after February 8, 2006 for less than fair market value on or after the look-back date specified in (A) of this paragraph subjects the individual to a penalty period for the disposal of such assets.

(A) For an institutionalized individual, the look-back date is 60 months before the first day the individual is both institutionalized and has applied for medical assistance. However, individuals that have purchased an Oklahoma Long-Term Care Partnership Program approved policy may be completely or partially exempted from this Section depending on the monetary extent of the insurance benefits paid.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an "institutionalized" individual is one who is residing in an ICF/MR or receiving HCBW/MR services.

(i) the first day of a month during which assets have been transferred for less than fair market value; or

(ii) the date on which the individual is:

(I) eligible for medical assistance; and

(II) receiving institutional level of care services that, were it not for the imposition of the penalty period, would be covered by SoonerCare.

(D) The penalty period:

(i) cannot begin until the expiration of any existing period of ineligibility;

(ii) will not be interrupted or temporarily suspended once it is imposed;

(iii) when there have been multiple transfers, all transferred assets are added together to determine the penalty.

(E) The penalty period consists of a period of ineligibility determined by dividing the total uncompensated value of the asset by the average monthly cost to a private patient in a nursing facility in Oklahoma shown on OKDHS Appendix C-1. In this calculation, the penalty must include a partial month disqualification based upon the relationship between that fractional amount and the average monthly cost to a private patient in a nursing facility in Oklahoma. There is no limit to the length of the penalty period for these transfers. Uncompensated value is defined as the difference between the fair market value at the time of transfer less encumbrances and the amount received for the resource.

(F) Assets are defined as all income and resources of the individual and the individual's spouse, including any income or resources which the individual or such individual's spouse is entitled to but does not receive because of action:

(i) by the individual or such individual's spouse;

(ii) by a person, including a court or administrative body, with legal authority to act in place of or on behalf of the individual or such individual's spouse; or

(iii) by any person, including any court or administrative body acting at the direction or upon the request of the individual or such individual's spouse.

(G) Special Situations.

(i) Separate Maintenance or Divorce.

(I) There shall be presumed to be a transfer of assets if an applicant or member receives less than half of the couple's resources pursuant to a Decree of Separate Maintenance or a Decree of Divorce.

(II) There shall be presumed to be a transfer of assets if the income is reduced to an amount lower than the individual's own income plus half of the joint income. The transfer penalty shall be calculated monthly.

(III) Assets which were exempt lose the exempt character when not retained by the applicant or member in the divorce or separate maintenance. These assets, if received by the other spouse, are counted when determining the penalty.

(IV) The applicant or member may rebut the presumption of transfer by showing compelling evidence that the uneven division of income or resources was the result of factors unrelated to SoonerCare eligibility.

(ii) Inheritance from a spouse.

(I) Oklahoma law provides that a surviving spouse is entitled to a minimum portion of a deceased spouse's probate estate. The amount depends on several factors.

(II) It is considered a transfer if the deceased spouse's will places all, or some, of the statutory share the applicant or member is entitled to receive in a trust which the applicant or member does not have unfettered access to or leaves less than the statutory amount to the applicant or member, who does not then elect to receive the statutory share in probate proceedings.

(H) A penalty would not apply if:

(i) the title to the individual's home was transferred to:

(I) the spouse; or

(II) the individual's child under age 21 or who is blind or totally disabled as determined by Social Security; or

(III) a sibling who has equity interest in the home and resided in the home for at least one year immediately prior to the institutionalization of the individual; or

(IV) the individual's son or daughter who resided in the home and provided care for at least two years immediately prior to the individual's institutionalization.

(ii) the individual can show satisfactorily that the intent was to dispose of assets at fair market value or that the transfer was exclusively for a purpose other than eligibility. It is presumed that any transfer of assets made for less than fair market value was made in order to qualify the individual for SoonerCare. In order to rebut this presumption, the individual must present compelling evidence that a transfer was made for reasons other than to qualify for SoonerCare. It is not sufficient for an individual to claim that assets were transferred solely for the purpose of allowing another to have them with ostensibly no thought of SoonerCare if the individual qualifies for SoonerCare as a result of the transfer.

(iii) the transfer was to the community spouse or to another person for the sole benefit of the community spouse in an amount equal to the community spouse's asset allowance. "Sole benefit" means that the amount transferred will be used for the benefit of the community spouse during his or her expected life.

(v) the asset was transferred to or from the spouse (either community or institutionalized) or to another person for the sole benefit of the spouse if the assets are not subsequently transferred to still another person for less than fair market value. "Sole benefit" means that the amount transferred will be used for the benefit of the spouse (either community or institutionalized) during his or her expected life.

(vi) the asset is transferred to a trust established solely for the benefit of a disabled individual under the age of 65.

(vii) the denial would result in undue hardship. Undue hardship exists when application of a transfer of assets penalty would deprive the individual of medical care such that the individual's health or life would be endangered; or of food, clothing, shelter, or other necessities of life.

(I) An undue hardship does not exist if the individual willingly transferred assets for the purpose of qualifying for SoonerCare services through the use of the undue hardship exemption.

(II) Such determination should be referred to OKDHS State Office for a decision.

(III) If the undue hardship exists because the applicant was exploited, legal action must be pursued to return the transferred assets to the applicant before a hardship waiver will be granted. Pursuing legal action means an APS referral has been made to the district attorney's office or a lawsuit has been filed and is being pursued against the perpetrator.

(I) The individual is advised by a written notice of a period of ineligibility due to transfer of assets, a timely process for determining whether an undue hardship waiver will be granted and a process for an adverse determination appeal. The notice explains the period of ineligibility for payment of ICF/MR or HCBW/MR services and the continuance of eligibility for other SoonerCare services.

(J) The penalty period can be ended by either all assets being restored or commensurate return being made to the individual.

(K) Once the restoration or commensurate return is made, eligibility is redetermined considering the value of the restored asset or the amount of commensurate return.

(L) The restoration or commensurate return will not entitle the member to benefits for the period of time that the asset remained transferred. An applicant cannot be certified for nursing care services or HCBW for a period of asset ineligibility.

(M) Assets which are held by an individual with another person or persons, whether held in joint tenancy or tenancy in common or similar arrangement, and the individual's ownership or control of the asset is reduced or eliminated is considered a transfer. The exception to this rule is if ownership of a joint account is divided according to the amount contributed by each owner.

(i) Documentation must be provided to show each co-owner's contribution;

(ii) The funds contributed by the applicant or SoonerCare member end up in an account owned solely by the applicant or member.

(N) When a transfer of assets by the spouse of an individual results in a period of ineligibility and the spouse who made such transfer subsequently becomes institutionalized, the period of ineligibility will be apportioned between the two institutionalized spouses.

(6) Commensurate return. Commensurate return for purposes of this Section is defined as actual money payment or documentation of money spent on the member's behalf; i.e., property taxes, medical debts, nursing care expenses, etc., corresponding to the market value of the transferred property. The definition does not include personal services, labor or provision of rent-free shelter. It also does not include a monetary value assigned and projected for future payment either by cash or provision of services. Any transfer of property within the five years prior to application or during receipt of assistance must be analyzed in regard to commensurate return as well as determination of intent.

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.