Purpose and definitions

(A) The purpose of the RSS program is to provide cash assistance to medicaid-eligible aged, blind, or disabled adults who have increased needs due to a medical or behavioral health condition which may not be severe enough to require institutionalization. The RSS cash payment is used together with the individual's personal income to help prevent premature or unnecessary institutionalization and to deinstitutionalize those aged, blind, or disabled adults who do not need care in a long term care facility and are able to return to the community through alternative living arrangements. OhioMHAS is the RSS administrative agency, although area agencies on aging assist with level of care determinations and county departments of job and family services determine financial eligibility for the program.

(B) Definitions As used throughout this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "RSS" means the residential state supplement program implemented under section 5119.41 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Individual" means a person who is applying for or receiving RSS payments.

(3) "CDJFS" means "county department of job and family services."

(4) "OhioMHAS" means the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services. .

(5) "Legal representative" means a person that an individual or probate court designates to make decisions for the individual. Examples of types of legal representatives are guardians, conservators, and attorneys-in-fact who are nominated through a power of attorney, including a durable power of attorney for health care.