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Aged, Blind and Disabled Manual Policy Manual Number: 130.005 Section: CHOICES Chapter: TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports August 01, 2024 Division of TennCare 4 The AAADs serve as the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) into LTSS for the majority of elderly and physically disabled individuals. When the application process begins with the AAADs, the AAADs submit the Medicaid application to TennCare and complete the LOC assessment. When the application is received without a PAE from another entity (nursing facilities, hospitals, families, or individuals), TennCare refers the HCBS individuals to the AAAD in their area for the LOC assessment only. Enrollment through the AAAD is not mandatory. TennCare Medicaid MCOs help facilitate enrollment into LTSS for their current members, i.e., individuals who already have TennCare Medicaid eligibility. The TennCare Application can be used for all new applicants or enrollees who are required to submit a new application. Individuals only enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, QDWI or QI1) who are applying for Institutional Medicaid and CHOICES must submit a TennCare Application and work with their local AAAD or NF to apply for CHOICES. For more information on the application process, see The Application Process policy. b. SSI Cash Recipients i. Overview SSI Cash recipients who apply for LTSS do not need to file a TennCare application and, in general, will not be moved into an Institutional Medicaid category (see exception for SSI Cash recipients with Other Income). An SSI Cash recipient who applies for LTSS must have the following documents: 1. An approved, unexpired PAE; and 2. An MCO-LTSS Eligibility Checklist (if PAE is submitted by the MCO). When approving an SSI Cash recipient for LTSS, and at subsequent renewals, TennCare will rely on resource eligibility as determined by SSA and income information from the State Data Exchange (SDX) as reported to and verified by SSA. A new TennCare application or additional verification of resource and income eligibility is not permitted unless there is reason to believe that the individual has additional income or resources beyond what is known to SSA. ii. SSI Cash Recipients Applying for HCBS The MCOs facilitate the application process for SSI Cash recipients applying for HCBS. The MCO will submit a PAE to the TennCare LTSS Unit for review.