Md. Code Regs. 10.09.24.08-3

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 21, October 18, 2024

Section 10.09.24.08-3 - Resource Consideration of Entrance Fees for Continuing Care Retirement Communities

A. Treatment of Entrance Fees before January 1, 2006. For Medical Assistance applications or requests for spousal resource assessments filed before January 1, 2006, the entrance fee shall be considered in accordance with the policies for exclusion of home property in this chapter.

B. Treatment of Entrance Fees On or After January 1, 2006.

(1) For Medical Assistance applications or requests for spousal resource assessments filed on or after January 1, 2006, an entrance fee shall be considered available to the owner as a countable resource if the CCRC provides written verification, based on CCRC practice or policy, which satisfies the Department that all of the following criteria are met:

(a) The applicant or recipient or a designated beneficiary is eligible for a full refund of any amount remaining in the entrance fee, after subtracting any payments or transfers made by the individual in accordance with §B(1)(c)-(e) of this regulation, when the individual:

(i) Dies; or

(ii) Terminates the continuing care agreement and leaves the CCRC facility;

(b) The entrance fee does not confer on the applicant or recipient a real property interest in the CCRC facility, in which case the entrance fee would be considered as excludable home property;

(c) The applicant or recipient has the ability to obtain funds from the entrance fee, without moving from the CCRC facility, to pay the CCRC or another entity for support and maintenance if the individual's income and other resources are insufficient to pay for the support and maintenance;

(d) If the Medical Assistance applicant or recipient has a son or daughter who is blind or disabled as defined under this chapter, the applicant or recipient has the ability to transfer unconditionally all or part of the entrance fee to the individual's blind or disabled son or daughter; and

(e) If the Medical Assistance applicant or recipient is institutionalized and married to a community spouse the:

(i) CCRC's entrance fee, if it is considered a countable resource in accordance with the requirements in §B of this regulation, shall be included in the assessment for the attribution of spousal resources, in accordance with Regulation .10-1 of this chapter; and

(ii) CCRC shall permit the recipient to transfer unconditionally all or part of the entrance fee to the sole ownership of the community spouse according to the amount that is needed, after totaling other resources owned singly or jointly by the couple, for the community spouse resource allowance to total the protected amount calculated by the Department, in accordance with Regulation .10-1 of this chapter.

(2) The Department shall grant the applicant or recipient the opportunity to rebut the CCRC's written verification that all of the conditions in §B of this regulation are met for consideration of the entrance fee as a countable resource.

(3) If the applicant or recipient submits a rebuttal to the Department, the Department shall request additional documentation and evidence from the CCRC that support the basis for the CCRC's written verification of the availability of the entrance fee.

(4) The entrance fee may not be considered as a countable resource for determining the applicant's or recipient's Medical Assistance eligibility if the:

(a) Requirements in §B(1) of this regulation are not met;

(b) CCRC imposes limitations, conditions, penalties, or otherwise restricts the individual's right to reside in the CCRC facility when the individual uses funds from the entrance fee to make payments or transfers in accordance with §B(1)(c) - (e) of this regulation; or

(c) Applicant or recipient successfully rebuts, as determined by the Department in accordance with §B(2) of this regulation, the CCRC's written verification that all of the conditions in §B(1) of this regulation are met.

Md. Code Regs. 10.09.24.08-3

Regulation .08-3 adopted effective November 24, 2005 (32:23 Md. R. 1826)