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COMAR 10.09.24.01-.16 1632 State of Maryland Medical Assistance Manual Revised July 2012

.04 Application.

A. The Department or its designee shall determine initial (retroactive and current) and continuing eligibility.

B. The Department or its designee shall give oral or written information about the eligibility requirements, coverage, scope and related services of the Medical Assistance Program and an individual's rights and obligations under the Medical Assistance Program, to any person requesting this information.

C. An individual requesting Medical Assistance shall be given an opportunity to apply. The Department or its designee shall make the application form available to the individual without delay. A resident temporarily absent from the State but intending to return may apply for assistance to the Department or its designee. The individual shall demonstrate continued residency in the State and shall meet all nonfinancial and financial requirements in order to be determined eligible.

D. A signed application is required for all persons for whom assistance is requested. If, after the completion of an eligibility determination, assistance is requested for additional family members, a signed application is required for those persons. The following exception to this requirement is that a child born to a mother eligible for and receiving Medical Assistance on the date of the child's birth shall be considered to have applied for Medical Assistance and to have been found eligible for Medical Assistance on the date of his birth and to remain eligible for Medical Assistance for a period of 1 year so long as he is a member of the mother's household and the mother remains eligible for Medical Assistance.

E. Individuals receiving SSI, Mandatory State Supplement, Optional State Supplement, AFDC, AFDC-Foster Care, or AFDC-Unemployed Parent are eligible for Medical Assistance without filing a separate application.

F. Application Filing and Signature Requirements.

(1) An individual who wishes to apply for Medical Assistance shall submit a signed application form to the Department or its designee. An applicant shall be responsible for the application but may be assisted in the completion by an individual of the applicant's choice.

(2) For the purpose of establishing only the date of application, the applicant or a person acting on behalf of the applicant may sign the application form.

(3) For the purpose of establishing eligibility, the applicant shall sign the application form. If the applicant is physically or mentally unable to sign the form, an authorized representative shall complete and sign it. In the case of a child applicant younger than 18 years old, a parent of the child shall sign the application form, except in the following situations: