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Medicaid Eligibility Manual Abbreviations/Acronyms/Definitions

Issued November 13, 2025 Page 2 of A-200 Replaces January 27, 2025

Revised/added text indicated by underscore Deleted text indicated by “**”

Allocation of Income – A process by which income is designated for individuals not included in the income unit.

Appeal – 1. A request for a fair hearing concerning a proposed agency action, a completed agency action, or failure of the agency to make a timely determination. 2. A legal proceeding in which the applicant/beneficiary and the Medicaid agency representative presents the case being appealed in front of an impartial hearing officer. (see Fair Hearing.)

Applicant – An individual who is requesting assistance from the agency.

Application – A formal request for benefits made to the agency in writing and signed by the applicant or someone acting on behalf of the applicant. The application may be received by mail, phone, fax, in person, or electronically.

Application Center – A place that provides outreach to individuals and families by assisting in completing an initial application for Medicaid.

Application Date – The date a signed application is received by telephone, mail, fax, in person, or electronically in the local Medicaid office or agency representative’s office. A local Medicaid office or agency representative’s office is defined as a local or regional Medicaid office, the LaCHIP Processing Office, the Medicaid Director’s office, family planning eligibility office, or a certified Medicaid application center. A long-term care nursing facility is not considered a certified Medicaid application center.

Assets – All of the income and resources belonging to the individual and the individual’s spouse.

Assistance Unit – Beneficiaries included in a medical assistance certification who are receiving Medicaid.

Authorized Representative – One or more individuals designated by an applicant/beneficiary (verbally or by use of a designation form) to act on his/her behalf with respect to a specific Medicaid application or renewal. (see Responsible Person.)

Auto Notices – The automated notice system that produces system generated forms or notices based on a transaction in LaMEDS.

Automated Renewal – Automated renewal process for programs that have a low chance of change in income and resources.

Available Resource – A resource to which the resource unit has legal access.