2307 Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

A. Pursuant to section 477 of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169) and Act 352 of the 2008 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the Department of Health and Hospitals hereby implements a Medicaid eligibility group, effective March 1, 2009, to provide health care coverage to youth who are transitioning out of foster care to self-sufficiency upon reaching age 18. This eligibility group will be called youth aging out of foster care.

B. Eligibility Requirements. Youth who are aging out of foster care on or after March 1, 2009 and meet all of the following requirements may receive Medicaid health care coverage under this new eligibility group.

1. The youth must be from age 18 up to age 21.

2. The youth must have been in foster care and in state custody, either in Louisiana or another state, upon obtaining age 18.

3. The youth must live in Louisiana.

C. Income, resources and insurance status are not considered when determining eligibility.

D. Individuals determined eligible in this group shall receive coverage of medically necessary health care services provided under the Medicaid state plan.

1. The assistance unit shall consist of the youth only.

E. Eligibility for the program will continue until the youth reaches age 21 unless the youth:

1. moves out of state;

2. requests closure of the case;

3. is incarcerated; or

4. dies.

F. Application Process. No application is required for this eligibility group. Closure of a foster care case due to the youth reaching age 18 establishes eligibility.

G. Certification Period. The certification period shall begin the month the youth reaches age 18 and will end on the last day of the month in which the youth reaches age 21.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 35:2449 (November 2009).