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Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Obsolete Medicaid Eligibility Handbook For the current MEH, see http://www.emhandbooks.wi.gov/meh-ebd/ For the current BC Plus Handbook, see http://www.emhandbooks.wi.gov/bcplus/ |
4.9.8.3 Prepaying a Deductible
4.9.8.3.1 Payment of Entire Deductible Amount
4.9.8.3.2 Combination of Payment and Incurred Expenses
4.9.8.3.3 Combination of Payment and Outstanding Expenses
The fiscal test group or family fiscal unit ( FFU ) meets the deductible by incurring medical costs that equal the dollar amount of the deductible. The countable costs are added together. When they are equal to or greater than the amount of the deductible, the group can be certified for Medicaid.
If the group does not meet the deductible within the deductible period, it can choose to begin a new deductible period. (4.9.3)
If an expense was applied to a prior deductible but did not result in MA certification, it can be applied to a later deductible, as long as it still meets the criteria listed in 4.9.8.1.
1. Be an expense for a member of the applicant/recipient's FFU (4.8.1) or FTG (5.1.5)
Expenses may be counted if incurred for someone the client is legally responsible for if that individual could be counted in the client's FTG or FFU. The medical bill may be used even if the family member is no longer living or no longer in the current FTG or FFU.
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Example1: Sally's minor child Ida died of leukemia in April 2004. In September 2004, Sally requests that a medical bill incurred for Ida be used towards her deductible. Sally is still legally responsible for the bill. The bill can be used to meet the deductible as long it did not result in a Medicaid certification in an earlier period. |
2. Meet the Definition of Medical or Remedial expense as defined in (4.9.8.1.1)
3. Meet one of the following four conditions
Still be owed to the medical service provider sometime during the current deductible period.
Expenses which have been “deferred” by the provider are considered a countable cost still owed to the provider and can be used to meet a Medicaid deductible.
The deferred charge should be viewed as an incurred expense that remains an unpaid obligation for the client.
If only a portion of the deferred charge was used to meet a prior deductible, any remaining balance can be used to meet future deductibles.
Many deferred charge situations involve very high costs for the services provided, it is extremely important to document in Case Comments which portion of the deferred charges are used to meet previous deductibles, and any remaining balance that can be used to meet current or future deductibles.
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Example2: From May- July 2003 Helen resided in an Institute for Mental Disease (IMD) and incurred a $14,000 bill. As of October 2004, Helen has not paid this bill. In October Helen's social worker, Ruth, applies for MA on Helen's behalf.
Ruth tried to help Helen meet her deductible by collecting Helen's medical bills. The "bill" for Helen's IMD stay listed $ 14,000 in "Deferred Charges". Ruth questioned what deferred meant. The account's receivable person at the IMD indicated that charges for low-income people are often "deferred." "Deferred", she explained, means that the client would never be billed for the charges, but if s/he happens to come into a windfall of money (lottery or inheritance), they will change the status of those charges to current and try to collect the debt.
Helen can use this "deferred" charge toward her deductible. |
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Example 3: Lestat applies for MA in July, 2004. An MA deductible of $700 is calculated for him. In 2003 he had a blood transfusion. The bill for the transfusion was $800. He never paid it and still owes it to the service provider. He can use the unpaid bill to meet his MA deductible, but must provide documentation to show that the charges are currently owed. The remaining $100 can be applied to the next deductible period, as long as it is still owed. |
Paid or written off sometime during the current deductible period. Medical bills written off through bankruptcy proceedings are not allowed as a medical expense to meet a deductible.
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Example 4: Frank and Estelle apply for MA on March 1, 2004, requesting that their deductible period begin January 1, 2004. Their deductible for the period January 1 - June 30th is $340. In April, they had a ten-year-old medical bill of $300 written off. They can count the $300 toward the January - June 2004 deductible because it was written off during the deductible period. |
Paid or written off sometime during the deductible period that immediately precedes and borders on the current deductible period. These bills can be used even if they were paid after the person met the deductible in the prior period.
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Example 5: Jeffrey is in his second deductible period. He did not meet his deductible in the prior period, which borders on the current period. He has a bill that was written off in the prior period. He can apply this bill to his current deductible. |
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Example 6: Malcom is in his second deductible period which began March 1, 2004. He did not meet his deductible in the prior deductible period, which immediately preceded the current deductible period. He has a medical bill that he paid in February 2003. He may not apply this toward his current deductible. |
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Example 7: Norah is in her second deductible period which began in September 2004.. In June 2004, Norah met her deductible and was certified for MA. . After certification, and before the prior deductible period ended in August 2004, Norah paid for medical services that were not MA covered services. Norah can apply these paid bills to the deductible period the began in September 2004. |
Paid or written off some time during the three months prior to the date of application. This expense can only be used for the first deductible period. Balances cannot be carried forward to future deductible periods.
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Example 8: Mr. and Mrs. Avenue apply for MA on August 10th, 2004, requesting that their deductible period begin on August 1, 2004. Their deductible for the period from August 2004 through January 2005 is $1500. On May 10th the couple paid off a $2000 outstanding medical bill. They can use that expense to meet their deductible because it was paid in the three months prior to the date of their application. The remaining $500 cannot be applied to future deductible periods. |
The following are expenses that can be counted against the deductible if they meet the conditions listed in 4.9.8.1:
Medical expenses. Medical expenses are costs for services or goods that have been prescribed or provided by a professional medical practitioner (licensed in Wisconsin or another state) regardless of whether the services or goods are covered by MA. Medical expenses for services or prescriptions acquired outside of the United States may be counted toward a deductible if a licensed medical practitioner or pharmacy provided the service or drug.
Some examples of medical expenses are deductibles and co-payments for MA,for Medicare, for private health insurance; and bills for medical services which are not covered by the Wisconsin Medicaid program.
Note: MMIS data may be used to calculate MA co-payments from the previous deductible period.
Remedial expenses. Remedial expenses are costs for services or goods that are provided for the purpose of relieving, remedying, or reducing a medical or health condition. Some examples of remedial expenses are:
Case management
Day care.
Housing modifications for accessibility.
Respite care.
Supportive home care.
Supportive Home Care is necessary assistance to help people meet their daily living needs, ensure adequate functioning in their home, and safely access their community. Services may include:
Assistance with activities of daily living
Attendant care
Supervision
Reporting changes in the participant’s condition,
Assistance with medication and medical procedures which are normally self-administered, or
The extension of therapy services, ambulation and exercise.
Tasks associated with routine household upkeep, including general housekeeping chores, lawn mowing, snow removal, changing storm or screen windows and other household services that are essential to the participant’s safety, well being and care at home.
Transportation.
Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF), Adult Family/Foster Home (AFH), Residential Care Apartment Complex ( RCAC ), and all other community substitute care setting program costs not including room and board expenses.
Remedial expenses do not include housing or room and board expenses.
CBRF, AFH, RCAC, and all other community substitute care setting program costs, not including room and board expenses, can be counted as a remedial expense only as they are incurred. CBRF, AFH, RCAC and all other community substitute care setting program costs will be considered incurred as of the date that the client is billed for these expenses by the CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting. The billing procedure used by the CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting (one month in advance, bimonthly, etc.) for MA residents should be the same as that which is used for its non-MA residents.
In determining how much of a CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting expense can be applied to meet a medical deductible, use the facility’s breakdown of the room and board versus program costs, with the program costs to be applied to the deductible.
Ambulance service and other medical transportation (7.1.4.1) , including attendant services (7.1.4.1.3 (12).
Medical insurance premiums paid by a member of the fiscal test group or FFU. These insurance premiums include disease specific and per diem hospital and nursing home insurance payments. Do not allow accidental insurance policy premiums as a countable cost.
Note: Unlike other expenses listed in this section that may not be applied toward a deductible until they are incurred, count medical insurance premiums from the first day of the deductible period, if the premium will be coming due anytime during the current deductible period.
Medical bills paid by a party who is not legally liable to pay them can be counted against a deductible..
Examples of parties that pay medical bills when not legally liable include, but are not limited to: Churches, fraternal organizations, Children's Special Health Needs Unit of the Division of Public Health, Veterans Administration and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
Medical services received at a Hill-Burton facility. The Hill-Burton Act was enacted by Congress to provide federal assistance for the construction and modernization of health care facilities. Medical facilities which receive Hill-Burton assistance must provide without charge a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay for those services.
In-kind payments. These are services or goods supplied to the provider in lieu of cash. Self declaration of the bill being satisfied is adequate verification.
Medical or remedial expenses that are paid or will be paid by a state, county, city or township administered program that meets the conditions detailed in 4.9.8.1. # 3.
Examples include:
General Assistance
Community Options Program
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
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Example 1: Fred receives a medical service which will be paid by ADAP. When Fred comes in to apply for Medicaid and has to meet a deductible this medical bill that has not been paid can be used immediately because it will be paid by the state adminstered ADAP program. |
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Example 2: Sally received a medical service in January 2005 which was paid by the state administered, state funded Community Options Program in the same month. In February Sally applies for Medicaid requesting a backdate to January 2005. Sally has excess income and must meet a deductible. Since the medical bill was paid by COP within three months of Sally's Medicaid application it can be used to meet Sally's Medicaid deductible. |
Medical or remedial expenses that have been paid or will be paid by Indian Health Services that meet the conditions detailed in 4.9.8.1 # 3
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Example 3: On January 1, Michael received a medical service which will be paid by Indian Health Services. When Michael applies for Medicaid on January 10 he has to meet a deductible. The bill for the January 1 medical services may be used immediately because it will be paid by the Indian Health Services program. |
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Example 4: Charlie received a medical service in January 2005 which was paid by Indian Health Services in the same month. In February Charlie applies for Medicaid requesting a backdate to January 2005. Charlie has excess income and must meet a deductible. Since the bill was paid by Indian Health Services within three months of Charlie's Medicaid application it can be used to meet Charlie's Medicaid deductible. |
Do not count the following toward the deductible:
Medical bills written off through bankruptcy.
Medicare Supplemental Medical Insurance ( Plan B ) premiums if they have already been deducted from the gross social security check.
Medical services payable or paid for by a third party who is legally liable for the bill. This includes bills that will be paid or have been paid by Medicaid, Medicare, or other Insurance.
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Example 1: Medical services provided to an incarcerated person. In this case, the incarcerating authority is the legally liable third party. |
A bill cannot be used if it has been used to meet a prior deductible. If only a portion of an unpaid bill was used to meet a prior deductible, any remaining balance that was not applied to the prior deductible, may be applied to a subsequent deductible period as long as it is still owed or meets criteria in 4.9.8.1
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Example 2: The court orders a health insurer or other third party to pay for medical services. |
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Example 3: An applicant incurs a $300 medical bill. She applies the $300 toward her deductible even though s/he has not made any payments on the bill. She meets her deductible and is certified for Medicaid. Three years later she applies for Medicaid again and a deductible is calculated for her. She now pays the $300 bill. But she cannot use it to meet her current deductible because she already used it to meet the prior deductible. |
Anyone can prepay a deductible for himself/herself or for someone else. It can be paid in installments or all at once. A prepaid deductible may be refunded if the client requests a refund of the prepayment prior to the begin date of the corresponding deductible period.
If the client is 55 or older, forward the payment to:
Estate Recovery/Casualty Collections
6406 Bridge Road
Madison WI 53784-0013
Prepayment checks or money orders should be made payable to: “The Department of Health and Family Services.”
With the payment, include:
Documentation that the payment is voluntary.
The client’s name and MA ID number.
If s/he is under 55, instruct the client to make the payment payable to your IM Agency. Report the receipt on the Community Aids Reporting System ( CARS ) on Line 909.
If the entire deductible amount is paid at any point during the deductible period, eligibility begins on the first date of the deductible period.
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Example: Laura’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st. The total deductible amount is $1,000. Laura submits payment of $1,000 on August 15th. Laura’s MA eligibility begins on March 1st. |
Enter the first date of the deductible period on AGTM as the date the payment was received.
If the deductible is met through a combination of payment and incurred medical expenses, count the incurred medical expenses first. Eligibility, by paying the remaining deductible amount, can begin no earlier than the last date of incurred medical expense within the deductible period.
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Example: Chad’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st. The total MA deductible amount is $1,800. Chad submits a medical bill with a March 8th date of service for $800. On July 15th, he submits payment of $1,000. Chad’s MA eligibility begins March 8th. Submit a Medicaid Remaining Deductible Update (HCF 10109) identifying the provider of service on March 8th and the $800 client share amount. |
Enter the incurred medical expense first. Perform a PF23 sort. The remaining balance is the amount that can be paid to meet the deductible. Enter the payment date as the same date of the last incurred medical expense, which equals the balance of the deductible, on CARES Client Assistance for Re-employment & Economic Support screen AGTM. Complete and submit a Medicaid Remaining Deductible Update (HCF 10109) to EDS. Enter the deductible met date as the date of the last incurred medical expense. Enter the client share as the amount of the last incurred medical expense.
If the deductible is met through a combination of payment and outstanding medical expenses (incurred prior to the beginning of the deductible period), eligibility begins on the first date of the deductible period.
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Example: Roberta’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st. The total MA deductible amount is $1,500. She submits an outstanding bill from January 10th for $500. On August 15th, she submits payment of $1,000. Roberta’s MA eligibility begins March 1st |
Enter the first date of the deductible period on AGTM as the date the payment was received.
If any portion of the deductible is paid and you find the amount was wrong due to agency error, refund the paid amount that was incorrect and report the refund on CARS.
If the deductible is paid with a check that is returned for insufficient funds, discontinue the person's eligibility, determine if an overpayment occurred and if so, establish a claim for benefit recovery.
This page last updated in Release Number: 07-02
Release Date: 02-01-07
Effective Date: 02-01-07