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Medicaid Eligibility Manual Abbreviations/Acronyms/Definitions
Issued November 13, 2025 Page 6 of A-200 Replaces January 27, 2025
Revised/added text indicated by underscore Deleted text indicated by “**”
Deemed Eligible – A child born to a woman eligible for Medicaid benefits on the date the child is born.
Deemed Income – In SSI-related cases, income from an ineligible individual such as a parent or spouse which is presumed to be available to an applicant/beneficiary whether or not the income is actually made available. This income is considered in determining income eligibility.
Deemed Resource – In SSI-related cases, a resource from an ineligible individual such as a parent or spouse which is presumed to be available to an applicant/beneficiary whether or not the resource is actually made available. This resource is considered in determining resource eligibility.
Dependent – An individual who is the financial responsibility of a member of the income unit and could be counted as a tax dependent if income tax is filed.
Discharge – Release from the care of a medical facility such as a nursing facility or hospital.
Domestic Partnership – Two people of the same or opposite sex who live together and share a domestic life, but are not married or joined by a civil union.
E
Earned Income – Income in cash or in-kind received in the form of wages, salary, commissions, or profit from activities in which an individual is actively engaged as an employee or from self-employment.
Earned Income Credit – Payments from the IRS to persons with tax dependents whose gross monthly earnings are at or below levels established by the IRS.
Equity – The fair market value of a resource, less any amount owed.
Estate – The gross (total value) estate of the deceased as determined by Louisiana succession law and any interest in any property, whether moveable or immovable, corporeal or incorporeal.
Estate Recovery – The process by which the state seeks recovery of Medicaid payments from the applicant/beneficiary’s estate for long-term care facility services, home and community based services, and related hospital and prescription drug services received by the beneficiary aged 55 and over.