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E. Certification Period 1. The certification period always begins with the month of application.

2. The certification period is 12 months. F. MQB-Q Authorization 1. Always begins the first day of the month after the month of disposition. The date of disposition is the date the DMA-5002/5002s is sent.

2. For recertification, authorization begins the first month of the new certification period if all eligibility criteria are met.

G. Retroactive Coverage 1. The applicant/beneficiary (a/b) can never receive MQB-Q coverage retroactively since benefits can begin no earlier than the month after disposition.

2. If the a/b has a retroactive need for the months prior to the MQB-Q certification period, evaluate for coverage for the retroactive months in another aid program/category.

3. Dual eligibility for MAABD and MQB-Q can never apply to retroactive months.

H. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) 1. Exclude the monthly amount of the RSDI COLA from countable income in determining eligibility for January, February, and March of each year. Use the prior December amount to determine eligibility for January through March. Effective April 1 begin counting the increased monthly RSDI benefit that was effective in January.

2. When the COLA increase is greater than the Federal Poverty Level, some Medicaid beneficiaries may lose eligibility or move to deductible status. In this situation, the most recent COLA must be disregarded in determining continued eligibility. If the beneficiary remains eligible when the SSA COLA is disregarded, the disregard continues until the beneficiary loses Medicaid eligibility or becomes eligible without the disregard.

I. Recertification 1. Apply the ex-parte process prior to the end of the certification period.

2. Verify the following eligibility factors at every recertification:

a. Medicare Entitlement