N.M. Admin. Code § 8.234.600.13 - SSI RETROACTIVE BENEFIT COVERAGE

Up to three months of retroactive medicaid coverage can be furnished to applicants who have received medicaid covered services during the retroactive period and would have met applicable eligibility criteria had they applied during the three months prior to the month of application [42 CFR 435.914] .

A. Application for retroactive benefit coverage: Application for retroactive medicaid can be made by checking "yes" in the "application for retroactive medicaid payments" box on the application or re-determination of eligibility for medical assistance (MAD 381) form or by checking "yes" to the question "does anyone in your household have unpaid medical expenses in the last three months?" on the application for assistance (ISD 100 S) form. Applications for retroactive supplemental security income (SSI) medicaid benefits for recipients of SSI must be made by 180 days from the date of approval for SSI. Medicaid covered services which were furnished more than two years prior to approval are not covered.

B. Approval requirements: To establish retroactive eligibility, the income support specialist (ISS) must verify that all conditions of eligibility were met for each of the three retroactive months and that the applicant received medicaid covered services. Eligibility for each month is approved or denied on its own merits.

(1) Applicable benefit rate: The federal benefit rate (FBR) in effect during the retroactive months based on the applicant's living arrangements is applicable for retroactive medicaid eligibility determinations. See 8.200.520.10 NMAC. If the applicant's countable income in a given month exceed the applicable FBR, the applicant is not eligible for retroactive medicaid for that month. If the countable income is less that the FBR, the applicant is eligible on the factor of income for that month. A separate determination must be made for each of the three months in the retroactive period.

(2) Disability determination required: If a determination is needed of the date of onset of blindness or disability, the ISS must send a referral to disability determination services (ISD 305) to the disability determination unit.

C. Notice:

(1) Notice to applicant: The applicant must be informed if any of the retroactive months are denied.

(2) Recipient responsibility to notify provider: After the retroactive eligibility has been established, the ISS must notify the recipient that he or she is responsible for informing all providers with outstanding bills of the retroactive eligibility determination. If the recipient does not inform all providers and furnish verification of eligibility which can be used for billing and the provider consequently does not submit the billing within 120 days from the date of approval of retroactive coverage, the recipient is responsible for payment of the bill.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.234.600.13

8.234.600.13 NMAC - Rp, 8.234.600.13 NMAC, 1-1-14