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(2) Received Medicaid preventive level services while residing at home or in a community-based care setting for at least thirty (30) consecutive days; (3) Been determined to have needs that require the level of services typically provided in a health care institution for at least thirty (30) consecutive days or would require such services were those in the home and community-based setting not provided. b. Received or required at least one (1) Medicaid covered LTSS benefit at home or in a community-based setting to address a functional/clinical need that would otherwise necessitate the type of LTSS typically provided in a health institution. 1.8 Eligibility Determination Process A. There is a multiphase process for determining eligibility and authorization for Medicaid LTSS that includes the following steps: 1. Information, Referral, Options Counseling – Prior to initiating the application process and/or at any step during the eligibility determination sequence, applicants and/or their family members or authorized representatives may seek information, referral and/or options counseling to assist them in navigating the LTSS system. Part 4 of this Subchapter sets forth role of this service. 2. Person-centered Planning – Upon making application for LTSS, the person-centered planning process must begin for anyone seeking HCBS. The process is available, at the applicant's option, for LTSS in a health care institution as well. Person-centered planning is an individualized approach to planning that places the applicant at the center of decision- making thereby enabling him/her to direct his/her own services and supports in accordance with his/her own desires, goals and preferences, with impartial assistance and supported decision-making when helpful. Accordingly, the person-centered planning is an on-going process that continues through the eligibility determination process through to the authorization of services and thereafter. In accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 441.301(c)(1), the State must ensure that throughout this process, the applicant has sufficient and necessary information in a form he/she can understand to make informed choices and direct the planning process to the maximum extent possible. See Part 4 of this Subchapter for specific provisions. 3. Eligibility Determination Factors – To gain access to LTSS, the information provided by applicants is evaluated across the eligibility factors identified below, though not necessarily in a specific order: