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Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Determinations

Reissued October 21, 2025 Page 1 of H-2400 Replacing March 14, 2023 Revised/added text indicated by underscore Deleted text indicated by “**” H-2400 REFUGEE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

H-2400 GENERAL INFORMATION Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) is a short-term, federally funded program designed to ensure that refugees receive the medical care they need while they make the transition to life in the United States. Eligibility must be reviewed for all other Medicaid programs prior to being certified. The Refugee Resettlement Agency (RRA) will refer all applicants/beneficiaries and must provide verification of acceptable refugee status.

All recipients of Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) that are ineligible for a Medicaid program shall be certified in RMA. It is not a requirement that applicants/beneficiaries receive or apply for RCA to be eligible for RMA.

A refugee who loses eligibility for Medicaid because of increased earnings from employment and is within the eligibility time period shall be transferred to RMA.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed the methodology for determining financial eligibility for Medicaid for most individuals to the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) methodology. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) granted authority to states to apply MAGI methodologies to the RMA program. Applicants/beneficiaries in RMA are considered a MAGI group for the duration of this authority.

Effective March 28, 2022 in accordance with ORR regulations the RMA eligibility period has been extended from eight (8) months to twelve (12) months if the individual’s date of eligibility for ORR benefits is on or after October 1, 2021. Additionally, for individuals enrolled on or after May 5, 2025, the eligibility period is limited to a maximum of four (4) months.

H-2410 COVERAGE Applicants/beneficiaries are eligible for the full range of Medicaid covered services.

H-2415 ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS Explore eligibility for other Medicaid programs that offer full Medicaid benefits before considering the RMA program.

All recipients of RCA that are ineligible for a Medicaid program shall be