A. A MN spenddown, previously referred to as the “Flexible Test of Income”, is a cost-sharing approach that provides a Medicaid eligibility pathway for certain people who have income above the limit for their applicable coverage group if they have high health expenses. Under the State’s Medicaid State Plan, members of these populations become eligible for Medicaid by “spending down” their income to a limit established by the state - - known as the MN income limit or MNIL by deducting certain health care expenses. The following populations may be MN eligible under this section:

1. Elders and adults with disabilities with income above 100 percent of the FPL;

2. Children with income above the MACC limit of 266% of the FPL (includes the 5% disregard);

3. Pregnant women with income above the MACC limit of 258% of the FPL (includes the 5% disregard);

4. Parents/caretakers with income above the MACC limit of 138% of the FPL (includes the 5% disregard);

5. Non-qualified non-citizens seeking coverage for emergency Medicaid if ineligible under all other pathways. (See § 1.7.5 of this Subchapter); and

6. Certain refugees, as defined in § 1.7.3 of this Subchapter, who do not otherwise qualify for Medicaid health coverage or commercial insurance with financial help through HSRI.

B. This section describes the Community Medicaid (non-LTSS) MN eligibility pathway in general and establishes the provisions governing initial and continuing eligibility for persons in these populations seeking Medicaid health coverage through this option.

A. For the IHCC groups in this section, MN coverage is available to elders and persons with disabilities with high medical expenses who have income above the EAD income limit, but otherwise meet all of the general eligibility requirements for Medicaid set forth in § 1.9 of this Subchapter.

1. Determination process - Applicants who do not meet the income limits for Medicaid in the IHCC groups are automatically evaluated for MN coverage. Members of the MACC groups must contact an agency eligibility specialist if seeking MN coverage. The MN cases are determined for a six (6) month period beginning with the first day of the month in which the application is received. Eligibility for Medicaid health coverage as MN is not established, however, until the applicant has presented proof of health expenses incurred and paid or that remain outstanding for the eligibility period. Any health expenses for which a beneficiary continues to be liable dating back to the retroactive period are also considered.

2. Continuing eligibility - The date of eligibility is the actual day of the month the applicant incurs a health expense - not the billing date - which reduces income to the MNIL. Eligibility may be renewed on a continuing basis if the beneficiary is liable for health care expenses that exceed current income. Otherwise, a re-evaluation of eligibility, based on the cost of health costs currently being incurred is required.

3. Agency responsibilities - The EOHHS must inform applicants who have income above the applicable limit for the appropriate IHCC group that MN coverage is an option and provide information about allowable health expenses for spenddown purposes and the scope and limits of obtaining coverage through this eligibility pathway. In addition, applicants must be informed of the impact of obtaining MN Medicaid health coverage for other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the MPPP.

4. Applicant/beneficiary responsibilities - Eligibility and renewal is contingent upon the applicant/beneficiary providing bills and receipts related to allowable health care expenses that are not paid through a third party. Therefore, the chief responsibility of the applicant/beneficiary is to maintain and present this information, unless submitted directly by a provider, to the state agency.

A. For a person who has income above the income standard across applicable eligibility pathways, the spenddown standard for their eligibility coverage group is applied. For example, the appropriate spenddown standard for parents/caretakers is 138% of the FPL (ceiling for MACC eligibility when 5% disregard is applied) and 266% of the FPL for children (MACC ceiling including disregard). The appropriate spenddown standard for elders and adults with disabilities is the medically needy income limit adjusted for household size.

1. Spenddown Amount - The spenddown amount is calculated as follows:

a. The beneficiary’s anticipated monthly net income for each month of the eligibility period based on the criteria appropriate for the specific coverage group using the SSI methodology.

b. Net income for all six (6) months.

2. FPL Comparison - The applicable six-month FPL standard is subtracted from the beneficiary’s six-month net income. If the result is:

a. Equal to or less than the FPL standard, the applicant is eligible for Medicaid without a spenddown, even if they exceed the monthly FPL standard in one or more months of the six-month period. No further calculation is necessary.

b. Greater than the FPL standard continue, further calculations are required.

3. Six-month Spenddown Amount - The six-month spenddown amount is determined by subtracting the applicable six-month FPL spenddown standard from the total six-month net income. The result is the six-month spenddown amount.

4. Application of Allowable Expenses - Allowed health care expenses are applied to the six-month spenddown amount. If the applicant will incur bills to satisfy the spenddown after the date the application is processed, the final processing will be delayed until after the applicant has received the health care services. Pre-approval of certain remedial (Medicaid LTSS) services is required if the MN beneficiary does not qualify for an LTSS preventive level of care.

Upon renewal, a six-month spenddown is calculated in the same manner.

A. Allowable health care expenses are those that are incurred by the beneficiary or other allowable family member(s) that are not subject to payment by a third party and may be:

1. Paid or unpaid health care bills incurred in the current eligibility period; and

2. Unpaid bills incurred prior to the current eligibility period.

B. The portion of a bill used to meet a previous spenddown cannot be used again in future spenddown calculations, unless the entire eligibility period was denied.

1. Allowable health care expenses - Such expenses include, but are not limited to:

a. Physician /health care provider visits

b. Health insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles

c. Dental visits

d. Chiropractic visits

e. Co-payments

f. Prescription drugs

g. Tests and X-rays

h. Hospital and nursing care

i. Home nursing care, such as personal care attendants, private duty nursing and home health aides

j. Eyeglasses

k. Hearing aids

l. Dentures

m. Medical supplies, such as wheelchairs

n. Therapy, such as speech, physical, or occupational therapy

o. Transportation for medical care, such as car, taxi, bus or ambulance

2. LTSS (remedial care) expenses - Costs related to LTSS level or remedial care, such as home nursing care/homemaker services, adult day and home stabilization may be applied to a spenddown when a beneficiary meets the LTSS preventive level of need. In all other instances, Community Medicaid MN beneficiaries must obtain per-authorization from an agency eligibility specialist to count these costs toward a spenddown.

A. Certain health care expenses are not allowed to be deducted from income. Such expenses include, but are not limited to:

1. Premiums paid by Medicaid or paid by the MPPP as a health care expense. Applicants and beneficiaries should consider whether participation in the MPPP will adversely affect their ability to maintain MN eligibility and vice versa with the assistance of an eligibility specialist.

2. Health care expenses incurred before the first day of the six-month certification period are not eligible for Medicaid payment; the beneficiary remains responsible for those bills.