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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 101 – Coverage Groups and Processing Applications and Reviews Page |705 Effective Month: December 2016 101.17.04 CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS AND HEARING DECISIONS When the client makes a timely hearing request during the advance notice period, benefits will be continued at the same level through the reinstatement process until a hearing decision is reached. When a decision, granting eligibility or increased benefits is rendered as a result of a state or local hearing, the regional office may be required to reinstate eligibility or when appropriate correct Medicaid Income, retroactive to the date decided by the hearing official. If benefits were continued in an active case pending the hearing decision, reinstatement may not be required unless the decision at the hearing is to increase the level of benefits in effect prior to the hearing. 101.17.05 TEMPORARY CASE CLOSURE When it is known that a client will be ineligible for two months or less, the closure is processed in the usual manner; however, at the end of the temporary period, the case may be reinstated without completing new eligibility forms necessary for reapplication. The case record will show:

o The exact length of time during which ineligibility will exist; o The date the recipient will be eligible again; o The reason for the temporary ineligibility.

In this situation a break in eligibility correctly exists; therefore, it is necessary to adjust the eligibility begin date to reflect the most recent eligibility begin date.