36-2950. Services to persons with disabilities; eligibility; premiums

A. Subject to the approval of the centers for medicare and medicaid services, beginning on January 1, 2002, the Arizona health care cost containment system administration shall provide services pursuant to this article to any person with a disability who is defined as eligible pursuant to section 36-2931, paragraph 5, subdivision (d), who meets the income requirements of subsection B of this section and who has too much income or resources to qualify for the system pursuant to section 36-2934.

B. A person meets the income requirements of this section if the person's countable income does not exceed two hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guidelines.  The administration shall use the supplemental security income methodology.  For purposes of this subsection, countable income does not include the person's unearned income, the person's spouse's or any other family member's earned or unearned income or a deduction for a minor child.

C. The administration shall adopt rules for the collection of premiums from persons who qualify for services pursuant to this section.  The premium shall not exceed two per cent of the person’s countable income.

D. The administration shall develop and implement a process for eligibility determinations for persons who apply for eligibility and annual redeterminations for continued eligibility.  The administration shall also develop and implement a process to determine medically improved disabilities. The administration may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the department of economic security or may contract with participating health plans to conduct eligibility determinations or redeterminations.  The administration may not use a resource test to determine or redetermine eligibility.