Page 92

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200A – Income: ABD Categories Page |92 Effective Month: July 2025 Treatment of Income Effective September 1, 2008, cash or in-kind payments provided by AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps NCCC are excluded from income, even if they meet the definition of wages. Such payments include, but are not limited to: • Living allowance payments • Stipends • Food and shelter • Clothing allowances • Educational awards and payments in lieu of educational awards AmeriCorps VISTA and Other Former ACTION Programs ACTION consisted of a number of volunteer service programs including: • Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA, now AmeriCorps VISTA) • Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) • University Year for Action (UYA) • Foster Grandparent Program • Senior Companion Program All payments to volunteers made by CNCS under former ACTION programs are excluded from income and resources. 200A.07.46 PAYMENTS FOR CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPATION Pursuant to the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act of 2009, exclude the first $2,000 of compensation per calendar year received by a Medicaid client, spouse or deemor as compensation for participation in clinical trials which research and test treatment of rare diseases or conditions. Payments which are reimbursements for expenses incurred while participating in the trial do not reduce the $2,000 calendar year maximum. Most clinical trials involving human subjects obtain the participants’ informed consent. The “informed consent form” will provide most of the information needed to determine if the exclusion applies. In the alternative, request an official letter from the administrator of the clinical trial which provides all relevant information of informed consent. Apply the exclusion only if the clinical trial meets the following requirements: • Must be reviewed and approved by an institutional Review Board (IRB), a committee which ensures a clinical trial is ethical and protects the participants.