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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200A – Income: ABD Categories Page |120 Effective Month: July 2025 • Of birth when a child is born in the parent’s home. • After the month of adoption (the month of adoption is the month that the adoption becomes final). Deeming is applied from parent to child when they live together in the same household. When the child lives with a stepparent, the stepparent is not considered a parent or spouse of a parent of the eligible child for deeming purposes. Other relative or individuals who have legal custody of a child, but are not natural or adoptive parents, are also not considered parents for deeming purposes. An individual whose parental rights have been terminated due to adoption no longer meets the definition of “parent” for Medicaid purposes. This remains true if the adopted child later lives in the same household as the former parent. Waiver of Parental Deeming Rules Effective July 1, 1998, a child in the Katie Beckett Program is exempt from parental deeming of income and resources. The eligible child’s own income and resources affect Medicaid eligibility in the usual manner. Temporary Absence For deeming purposes, a temporary absence exists when an individual (eligible individual or child or ineligible spouse, parent or child) leaves the household but intends to, and does, return in the same month or the following month. If the absence is temporary, deeming continues to apply. A child, away at school (vocational or educational training facility), who returns home on some weekends, holidays, or vacations and is subject to parental control is considered temporarily absent from the parents’ household regardless of the duration of the absence. Evidence which may indicate a child away at school is not subject to parental control includes an existing agreement, court order or signed statements from parents or school authorities. In the absence of such evidence, consider the child subject to parental control.