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20.3.5 Assets Verification of countable assets is mandatory. Verification of exempt assets (such as burial spaces or a household’s only vehicle) may only be requested if there is missing or conflicting information about the asset and more information is needed to determine if it is counted or exempt. If reported assets exceed the asset limit, do not pursue verification. Do not verify cash on hand. Verify AVS liquid assets using the Asset Verification System (AVS) integrated within CARES Worker Web. If current asset information is not available through AVS, the applicant/member has 20-days to verify their assets through other sources (for example, bank statements). Assist the applicant/member in obtaining verification if they have difficulty in obtaining it. 20.3.5.1 Divestment Verify divestment details, if an applicant or member or their spouse has divested assets when determining eligibility for institutional Medicaid, HCBW Medicaid, or for other Medicaid types if the applicant or member is requesting LTC services, such as Family Care or IRIS (see SECTION 17.1 DIVESTMENT DEFINED). 20.3.5.2 Reasonable Compatibility for Assets As defined in federal regulations, information from an electronic data source (in this case, AVS) is reasonably compatible if it results in the same eligibility outcome as self-reported information. • If the individual reports assets that are above a given asset limit, the self-reported asset information will be used to deny or terminate health care benefits, regardless of what the outcome would be from using AVS information. Verification is not required. • If both AVS and the self-reported information put the individual’s total countable assets below a given asset limit, the two data sources are considered to be reasonably compatible and further verification may not be requested or required. • If AVS puts the individual’s total countable assets above a given asset limit, but the self-reported information puts his or her total countable assets below that same limit, the two data sources are not reasonably compatible and further verification is required as a condition of eligibility. The reasonable compatibility test will only be applied to AVS liquid assets that have not otherwise been verified (for example, if a member submits bank statements as part of their initial application, or if the asset has been verified by another program). It can only be applied when asset information is available through the Asset Verification System. 20.3.5.2.1 Determination of Reasonable Compatibility The reasonable compatibility test will be performed during the eligibility determination for EBD Medicaid if there is an AVS-returned amount for at least one unverified liquid asset. To determine reasonable compatibility, CARES will perform the following calculations: Calculation Description