2912.4 Treatment of Spenddown Cases

Coverage of health insurance cost under HIPPS will only be applicable to those persons who are eligible for medical assistance, other than the payment of premiums for non-eligible individuals as referred to earlier. As persons in spenddown status are not technically "eligible" for benefits until the spenddown is met, enrollment in and payment of employer insurance coverage under HIPPS would not be potentially applicable until the spenddown is met. In general, it is not expected that the majority of spenddown cases will meet cost-effectiveness criteria unless one or more of the family members has an ongoing chronic medical condition (such as AIDS, heart problems, cancer, etc.) and ongoing expenses arising from this condition that consistently meet spenddown.

If there is no indication of an ongoing condition or the likelihood of meeting spenddown, the information would not be referred. If, for instance, the only ongoing as well as projected medical cost for a family is the cost of employer health insurance they are already paying for, there would be no good reason to refer to the HIPPS project. These kind of cases would likely not meet cost-effectiveness criteria and, by picking up the cost of the family's premium, the family may no longer be able to meet spenddown.

In essence, this initial screening shall be regarded as a type of cost-effectiveness determination. It is applicable primarily to new applicants who have had no previous track record in terms of assistance or of having specific or ongoing medical needs. If, upon meeting spenddown for the first time, there appears to be the likelihood for additional medical expenses or recurring medical needs, the case is to be referred to the HIPPS Unit. Otherwise, the case should be reviewed again at the time of redetermination or at the time any medical change becomes known and a possible referral made at that time once spenddown has been met.

For ongoing cases, the same rules would generally apply when a client begins work. Once spenddown is met, the eligibility staff should briefly review the situation based on expenses presented and their knowledge of the recipient or family. If spenddown has been met for at least 2 base periods and there appears to be likelihood this will continue because of medical conditions, a referral should be sent to the HIPPS unit for processing. The HIPPS unit will then determine cost-effectiveness in these instances but not take action to begin enrollment and payment until spenddown is met as indicated above for applications.