WAC 182-501-0215 Wraparound with intensive services (WISe)

WAC 182-501-0215 Wraparound with intensive services (WISe).

Revised February 25, 2023

  1. Wraparound with intensive services (WISe) is a service delivery model that provides comprehensive behavioral health covered services and support to:
    1. Clients age 20 or younger with complex behavioral health needs who are eligible for coverage under WAC 182-505-0210; and
    2. Their families.
  2. The authority, the managed care organizations, and the WISe provider agencies must use, continue to use, and substantially comply with the WISe quality plan (WISe QP) for the delivery of WISe. The purpose of the WISe QP is to:
    1. Provide a framework for quality management goals, objectives, processes, tools, and resources to measure the implementation and success of the WISe service delivery model; and
    2. Guide production, dissemination, and use of measures used to inform and improve WISe service delivery.
  3. The WISe QP, as may be amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference and is available online at https://www.hca.wa.gov/billers-providers-partners/behavioral-health-recovery/wraparoundintensive-services-wise.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

WAC 182-300-0100 Single bed certification

WAC 182-300-0100 Single bed certification.

Revised December 26, 2020

At the discretion of the health care authority (HCA) or HCA's designee, an exception may be granted to a facility that is not certified under chapter 246-341 WAC, for a person on an initial detention, a five-day detention pending a revocation proceeding, or a fourteen-day commitment in order to allow timely and appropriate treatment. An exception may also be granted for renewable periods of thirty days to allow a community facility to provide treatment to a person on a ninety- or one hundred eighty-day inpatient involuntary commitment order or to a person who has been revoked from a less restrictive alternative order or conditional release. For involuntarily detained or committed children, an exception may be granted to allow timely and appropriate treatment in a facility not certified under chapter 246-341 WAC, until the child's discharge from that setting to the community, or until they transfer to a bed in a children's long-term inpatient program (CLIP).

  1. In the case of an adult, the behavioral health administrative services organization (BH-ASO) or a designee must submit a written request for a single bed certification to HCA or HCA's designee. In the case of a child, the facility must submit the written request to HCA or HCA's designee and provide a copy to the BH-ASO. HCA or HCA's designee must receive and approve the request in order for a facility to accept a person for timely and appropriate treatment under this section. If HCA or HCA's designee has assumed the duties assigned to a nonparticipating BH-ASO, HCA or HCA's designee may designate an entity to request a single bed certification as described in this section.
  2. HCA or HCA's designee may issue a single bed certification in writing to the facility for timely and appropriate mental health treatment when the following requirements are met in each instance where such certification is sought for a person:
    1. The facility that is the site of the proposed single bed certification confirms that it is willing and able to provide directly, or by direct arrangement with other public or private agencies, timely and appropriate mental health treatment to the person for whom the single bed certification is sought; and
    2. The request for single bed certification describes why the person meets at least one of the following criteria:
      1. The person is expected to be ready for discharge from inpatient services at the facility referred to in (a) of this subsection within the next thirty days and remaining at that facility would facilitate continuity of care, consistent with the person's individual treatment needs;
      2. The person can receive appropriate mental health treatment in a residential treatment facility, as defined in WAC 246-337-005; or
      3. The person can receive appropriate mental health treatment in a hospital with a psychiatric unit, a psychiatric hospital, or a hospital that is willing and able to provide timely and appropriate mental health treatment, including a temporary health care facility that has a mental health component credentialed or approved by the department of health.
  3. In order to provide timely and appropriate mental health treatment, the facility receiving the single bed certification, or the public or private agency the facility has a direct arrangement with to provide mental health treatment, must:
    1. Implement standards for administration that include written procedures to assure that a mental health professional, as defined in RCW 71.05.020, and a licensed physician, psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant are available for consultation and communication with both the person and the direct patient care staff;
    2. Use a plan of care or treatment. The person's medical or clinical record must contain documentation that:
      1. An individualized mental health treatment plan was developed, when possible, collaboratively with the person. If the person is unwilling or unable to participate in development of the plan, documentation must be made in the record. Development of this plan may include participation of a multidisciplinary team, a mental health professional as defined in RCW 71.05.020, or collaboration with members of the person's support system as identified by the person; and
      2. A mental health professional, as defined in RCW 71.05.020, has had contact with the person at least daily for the purposes of:
        1. Observation and evaluation;
        2. Assessing whether the person is appropriate for release from involuntary commitment to accept treatment on a voluntary basis; and
    3. Have standards for administration and monitoring of medication, including psychiatric medications. A person has a right to make an informed decision regarding the use of antipsychotic medication consistent with RCW 71.05.215.
  4. If a person requires medical services that are not generally available at a facility certified under chapter 246-341 WAC, or at a state psychiatric hospital, or a facility that meets the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of this section, HCA or HCA's designee may issue a single bed certification to that facility for the person as follows:
    1. The single bed certification request must adequately describe why the person requires medical services that are not available at a facility certified under chapter 246-341 WAC, a state psychiatric hospital, or a facility that meets the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of this section;
    2. The facility that is the site of the requested single bed certification must confirm that it is willing and able to provide the medical services; and
    3. The facility has documented that one of the following has been met:
      1. With the authorization of the facility, and consistent with any applicable facility policies and procedures, the BH-ASO assigns a mental health professional to provide the person appropriate mental health treatment at the facility, including observation and evaluation, during the period of time the person is provided medical services; or
      2. The facility provides medical services and a plan that addresses the person's mental health treatment needs until the person is medically stable and the BH-ASO or a designee identifies an appropriate facility for the person that is one of the following:
        1. The facility providing services;
        2. A facility that is certified as an evaluation and treatment (E&T) facility; or
        3. A facility that can meet the person's needs under the single bed certification criteria in this section.
    4. If a qualified medical professional determines that mental health treatment for the person is not appropriate due to medical instability, the requirements in (c) of this subsection do not apply. When the person is determined to be medically stable, the facility must ensure the requirements in (c) of this subsection are met;
    5. A person who receives services under a single bed certification under this section must be transferred to an evaluation and treatment facility, state hospital, or other placement as soon as the attending physician considers the person medically stable and a bed becomes available, unless the treating facility consents to continue treatment and continued treatment in the current setting is consistent with the best clinical interests of the person.
  5. HCA or HCA's designee may make site visits at any time to verify that the terms of the single bed certification are being met. Failure to comply with any term of this exception may result in corrective action. If HCA or HCA's designee determines that the violation places people in imminent jeopardy, immediate revocation of this exception can occur.
  6. The BH-ASO retains the responsibility for ensuring due process required by RCW 71.24.300 (6)(b).
  7. Neither a person nor a facility has fair hearing rights as defined under chapter 182-526 WAC regarding single bed certification decisions made by HCA or HCA's designee staff.

 

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

WAC 182-521-0100 Disregarded income

WAC 182-521-0100 Noncountable income and resources during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Effective December 1, 2021

  1. This section describes certain types of income and resources received as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency that the health care authority (agency) does not count as income or resources when determining apple health eligibility. This includes certain unemployment income; any Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) or Recovery Rebates authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; and other needs-based and disaster-related benefits authorized as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The noncountable income and resources in this section are in addition to other noncountable income and resources in this title, such as those described in WAC 182-509-0320, 182-512-0860, and 182-513-1340.
  2. For all apple health programs, including both modified adjusted gross income-based (MAGI) and nonmodified adjusted gross income based (non-MAGI) programs, the agency does not count as income for Apple Health determinations of eligibility or cost-sharing calculations any of the following:
    1. Federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefits of six hundred dollars per week issued for the period of March 18, 2020, through July 31, 2020;
    2.  Federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefits of three hundred dollars per week issued for the period of December 26, 2020, through September 6, 2021;
    3. Lost wages assistance unemployment compensation benefits of three hundred dollars per week issued for the period of weeks ending August 1, 2020, through September 6, 2021, due to the federal Disaster Relief Fund authorized for states to offset lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, known as Lost Wage Assistance (LWA);
    4. Payments from the pandemic relief payment program as authorized by Governor Jay Inslee on December 27, 2020;
    5. Pandemic Recovery Rebates (also known as stimulus checks or economic impact payments);
    6. Needs-based and disaster-related benefits from other agencies, organizations, or tribal entities including, but not limited to:
      1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs, such as FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance;
      2. State programs, such as disaster cash assistance and the Washington immigrant relief fund; and
      3. Local/municipal programs, such as the city of Seattle hospitality workers relief fund and disaster relief fund for immigrants; and
    7. Pandemic-related changes to federal refundable tax credits including, but not limited to, the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, and the child and dependent tax care credit.
  3. For non-MAGI programs, the agency does not count as income any unemployment compensation received during the public health emergency.
  4. The agency does not count for apple health premium calculations all income not counted for eligibility determinations for apple health programs. The agency waives monthly premiums until the first of the month following the calendar quarter in which the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
  5. All income the agency does not count for eligibility determinations for non-MAGI programs, the agency also does not count in post eligibility treatment of income (PETI) calculations for long-term services and supports. The agency does not count such income whether it is paid to the community spouse or to the spouse seeking or receiving long-term services and supports. The agency does not count such income when determining the spousal allowance or in any other part of the post-eligibility calculation process.
  6. For non-MAGI programs, the agency does not count as a resource:
    1. The value of property essential for self-support (PESS) described in 20 C.F.R. 416.1222 that is subject to the requirement of producing net annual income of at least six percent of the PESS value during the period of the presidential and secretarial emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 outbreak;
    2. Pandemic recovery rebates and all other assistance described in Social Security Administration guidance; and
    3. Assistance including, but not limited to, the Temporary Expansion of the Child Tax Credit of 2021 that is not counted as income and treated under Social Security Administration guidance as not counted as resources for a period of 12 months after receipt.
  7. The agency reviews cases on an individual basis and does not count as resources any disaster assistance identified as excludable under federal law for an indefinite period.
  8. The agency does not count as income or resources any other payments for pandemic assistance not described in this section to the fullest extent provided for under state or federal law.
  9. Any income received as unemployment compensation not described within this section is otherwise countable and the agency counts it when determining MAGI-based apple health eligibility, unless otherwise specified under state or federal law.
  10. The agency does not terminate an enrollee's eligibility due to changes to an enrollee's income or resources.
  11. These rules are in effect until the later of:
    1. The date the client is receiving any benefits described in this rule; or
    2. The end of the month the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares the COVID-19 public health emergency to be over. 

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

Public health emergency and Apple Health

Revised date
Purpose statement

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 separated the Medicaid continuous enrollment provisions from the PHE allowing state Medicaid agencies to begin normal operations. HCA and DSHS resumed Medicaid terminations April 30th 2023, based on reported changes that created ineligibility or from a non-response to a request for needed verification.

Beginning May 31st, HCA and DSHS resumed Medicaid terminations related to non-receipt of a renewal.

WAC 182-521-0200 provides updates to HCA and DSHS policies regarding treatment of income, renewals, resumption of premiums, accumulated resources, and continuous enrollment.

The following Purpose statement was enacted during the Public Health emergency and is being left in the AH manual as a resource while cases are being redetermined. We anticipate consolidating these sections after April 2024.

In response to a public health or other emergencies beyond the agency’s control, the Health Care Authority (HCA) may invoke the following options via a State Plan Amendment, Disaster State Plan Amendment, waiver, or other federal regulation in the administration of the Medicaid program to implement changes to existing rule(s):

  1. Renewal dates may be extended for Apple Health coverage.
  2. Medically Needy (MN) coverage for individuals may be extended and attestation of medical expenses may be taken to meet spenddown amounts.  
  3.  Attestation of income and resources may be accepted to determine new and continued eligibility for all Apple Health programs. 
  4. HCA may provide additional flexibility for clients when HCA is requesting information to process an application or a change of circumstances, including:
    1. Allowing more time to provide needed verifications;
    2. Allowing use of alternative verifications to verify circumstances; or
    3. Allowing flexibility for self-attestation in some situations including attesting to a disabling condition that could result in eligibility or documenting level of care.
  5. Premiums for the Apple Health for Workers with Disabilities and Apple Health for Kids with Premiums programs may be deferred, suspended, or waived, including past-due premiums.
  6. The treatment of income in the post eligibility process for long-term care may be adjusted in order to benefit clients.
  7. HCA may provide additional flexibility for individuals who file administrative hearing requests including:
    1. Suspending adverse actions resulting from an administrative hearing;
    2. Providing additional time for individuals to request an administrative hearing and to complete the administrative hearings process; and 
    3. Allowing flexibility in requests for continued benefits.
  8. Terminations dates may be suspended or extended.  When a termination is suspended or extended to a later date, HCA will follow existing notice and redetermination procedures before the termination may take effect.
  9. HCA may allow additional use of presumptive eligibility.

Changes to rules apply during the declared emergency period and expire upon termination of the emergency period including any extensions.

All changes to rules shall be applied uniformly.

WAC 182-521-0100 Disregarded income

WAC 182-521-0100 Noncountable income and resources during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Effective December 1, 2021

  1. This section describes certain types of income and resources received as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency that the health care authority (agency) does not count as income or resources when determining apple health eligibility. This includes certain unemployment income; any Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) or Recovery Rebates authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; and other needs-based and disaster-related benefits authorized as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The noncountable income and resources in this section are in addition to other noncountable income and resources in this title, such as those described in WAC 182-509-0320, 182-512-0860, and 182-513-1340.
  2. For all apple health programs, including both modified adjusted gross income-based (MAGI) and nonmodified adjusted gross income based (non-MAGI) programs, the agency does not count as income for Apple Health determinations of eligibility or cost-sharing calculations any of the following:
    1. Federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefits of six hundred dollars per week issued for the period of March 18, 2020, through July 31, 2020;
    2.  Federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefits of three hundred dollars per week issued for the period of December 26, 2020, through September 6, 2021;
    3. Lost wages assistance unemployment compensation benefits of three hundred dollars per week issued for the period of weeks ending August 1, 2020, through September 6, 2021, due to the federal Disaster Relief Fund authorized for states to offset lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, known as Lost Wage Assistance (LWA);
    4. Payments from the pandemic relief payment program as authorized by Governor Jay Inslee on December 27, 2020;
    5. Pandemic Recovery Rebates (also known as stimulus checks or economic impact payments);
    6. Needs-based and disaster-related benefits from other agencies, organizations, or tribal entities including, but not limited to:
      1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs, such as FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance;
      2. State programs, such as disaster cash assistance and the Washington immigrant relief fund; and
      3. Local/municipal programs, such as the city of Seattle hospitality workers relief fund and disaster relief fund for immigrants; and
    7. Pandemic-related changes to federal refundable tax credits including, but not limited to, the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, and the child and dependent tax care credit.
  3. For non-MAGI programs, the agency does not count as income any unemployment compensation received during the public health emergency.
  4. The agency does not count for apple health premium calculations all income not counted for eligibility determinations for apple health programs. The agency waives monthly premiums until the first of the month following the calendar quarter in which the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
  5. All income the agency does not count for eligibility determinations for non-MAGI programs, the agency also does not count in post eligibility treatment of income (PETI) calculations for long-term services and supports. The agency does not count such income whether it is paid to the community spouse or to the spouse seeking or receiving long-term services and supports. The agency does not count such income when determining the spousal allowance or in any other part of the post-eligibility calculation process.
  6. For non-MAGI programs, the agency does not count as a resource:
    1. The value of property essential for self-support (PESS) described in 20 C.F.R. 416.1222 that is subject to the requirement of producing net annual income of at least six percent of the PESS value during the period of the presidential and secretarial emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 outbreak;
    2. Pandemic recovery rebates and all other assistance described in Social Security Administration guidance; and
    3. Assistance including, but not limited to, the Temporary Expansion of the Child Tax Credit of 2021 that is not counted as income and treated under Social Security Administration guidance as not counted as resources for a period of 12 months after receipt.
  7. The agency reviews cases on an individual basis and does not count as resources any disaster assistance identified as excludable under federal law for an indefinite period.
  8. The agency does not count as income or resources any other payments for pandemic assistance not described in this section to the fullest extent provided for under state or federal law.
  9. Any income received as unemployment compensation not described within this section is otherwise countable and the agency counts it when determining MAGI-based apple health eligibility, unless otherwise specified under state or federal law.
  10. The agency does not terminate an enrollee's eligibility due to changes to an enrollee's income or resources.
  11. These rules are in effect until the later of:
    1. The date the client is receiving any benefits described in this rule; or
    2. The end of the month the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares the COVID-19 public health emergency to be over. 

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

The Federal Pandemic Economic Unemployment Compensation and Recovery Rebates issued by the federal government under the Cares Act is not countable as income for any Medicaid program.  Recovery rebates are exempt as a resource for 12 months.

Other changes to rules during the COVID-19 pandemic include, expansion to coverage under the Alien Emergency rule and the Refugee Medical Assistance rule.

RMA clarifying: The agency is adopting emergency amendments to 182-507-0130, the Refugee medical assistance program, based on a federal waiver that expands the duration of medical assistance benefits during the PHE. The waiver allows receipt of more than 8 months of RMA. 

AEM clarifying: The proposed emergency rule expands the scope of covered services to include COVID-19 testing, assessment, and treatment of conditions that pose a potential threat to public health.

WAC 182-521-0200 Coverage after the public health emergency (PHE) ends

WAC 182-521-0200 Coverage after the public health emergency (PHE) ends.

Effective September 1, 2023

  1. In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE) declared by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and in response to Section 6008 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127), the medicaid agency:
    1. Continues your Washington apple health coverage unless your eligibility determination was made incorrectly, or you:
      1. Are deceased;
      2. Move out-of-state;
      3. Request termination of your coverage; or
      4. No longer meet citizenship or immigration requirements as described in WAC 182-503-0535.
    2. Waives and suspends the collection of premiums through the last day of the calendar quarter in which the PHE ends for:
      1. Apple health for kids with premiums (CHIP), as described in WAC 182-505-0215; and
      2. Health care for workers with disabilities (HWD) program, as described in WAC 182-511-1250.
    3. As required by Social Security Administration guidance, excludes permanently from resources federal, state, and local pandemic-related disaster assistance that has been retained.
    4. Excludes, for the duration of the PHE and a period of 12 months after the PHE ends, any resources not permanently excluded under (c) of this subsection and which accumulated from participation that did not increase in response to Section 6008(b) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), as described in WAC 182-512-0550 (24).
  2. Based on Section 5131 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), effective April 1, 2023, if you receive continued apple health due to the suspension of certain eligibility rules during the PHE, the agency will, after April 1, 2023:
    1. Redetermine your eligibility for ongoing coverage using the process and timelines described in WAC 182-504-0035 and notify you as required under chapter 182-518 WAC. You may update any information needed to complete a redetermination of eligibility, as described in WAC 182-504-0035.
      1. If you are no longer eligible for apple health, or you do not respond to our renewal request notice, you will receive at least 10 calendar days' advance notice before your coverage is terminated, as described in WAC 182-518-0025.
      2. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)-based coverage ends because you did not renew it, you have 90 calendar days from the termination date to complete your renewal. If you are still eligible for apple health, your benefits will be restored without a gap in coverage.
      3. If your coverage is terminated, you have a right to an administrative hearing, as described in chapter 182-526 WAC.
    2. Begin collecting premiums for CHIP and HWD clients prospectively, beginning with the month following the quarter in which the PHE ends, based upon reported circumstances, and without collecting arrears. 
    3. Resume eligibility verification based on the factors described in WAC 182-503-0050.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

Worker responsibilities

Please follow your administration's specific instructions regarding PHE unwind policies and procedures. PHE unwinding will continue through April 2024.

Uniform Medical Plan

Kaiser Permanente of Washington

Kaiser Permanente Northwest

Asset verification

Revised date
Purpose statement

To explain the asset verification system (AVS) and new program requirements for applicants and recipients of long-term care services. 

WAC 182-503-0055 Asset verification system

WAC 182-503-0055 Asset verification system

Effective September 12, 2020

  1. This rule implements the asset verification system (AVS) outlined in section 1940 of the Social Security Act.
  2. This rule applies to any client, or those financially responsible for them, who is subject to:
    1. The disclosure of resources, as defined in WAC 182-512-0200, to determine eligibility; or
    2. Provisions related to the transfer of assets, as described in WAC 182-513-1363.
  3. For the purposes of this section:
    1. "Financial institution" means the same as defined in section 1101 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act, and may include, but is not limited to:
      1. Banks; or
      2. Credit unions.
    2. "Financial record" means any record held by a financial institution pertaining to a customer's relationship with the financial institution; and
    3. "Financial responsibility" is described in WAC 182-506-0015.
  4. You and any other financially responsible people must provide authorization for us to obtain any financial record held by a financial institution.
    1. For you, the authorization may be provided by anyone described in WAC 182-503-0010 (1) and (2)(a), (b), or (c), except in the case of an authorized representative who must be designated by the client.
    2. For a financially responsible spouse, authorization may be provided by the spouse, their legal guardian, or their attorney-in-fact.
    3. The agency may grant an exception to rule as described in WAC 182-503-0090 if authorization is not provided by those listed in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
  5. The authorization, provided under subsection (4) of this section, will remain in effect until one of the following occurs:
    1. Your application for apple health is denied;
    2. Your eligibility for apple health is terminated; or
    3. You revoke your authorization in a written notification to us.
  6. We will:
    1. Use the authorization provided under subsection (4) of this section to electronically verify your financial records and those of any other financially responsible person to determine or renew your eligibility for apple health; or
    2. Inform you in writing at the time of application and renewal that we will obtain and use information available through AVS to determine your eligibility for apple health.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

Clarifying information

Section 1940 of the Social Security Act 2008 (42 USC 1396w), requires all states to implement a system to verify resources/assets of aged, blind, or disabled applicants and recipients of Medicaid, including long-term services and supports (LTSS), through the use of an asset verification system.

The AVS searches client financial institution accounts via several methods:

  • Automatically searches for accounts at the largest financial institutions in the United States.
  • Automatically searches for accounts at specific financial institutions based on the client's residential address, via a geographic search algorithm.
  • Allows financial eligibility staff to directly search for accounts at financial institutions where we believe the applicant/recipient has an account.

AVS reports on the following account types:

  • Burial accounts
  • Certificate of deposit
  • Checking accounts
  • Christmas club accounts
  • IRA accounts
  • Keogh accounts
  • Money market accounts
  • Rent security
  • Savings accounts
  • Trusts

Financial eligibility staff review the information received from financial institutions and resolve discrepancies with the client prior to the eligibility determination.

AVS does not change how financial eligibility staff handles questionable situations; AVS is another tool to use to determine eligibility.

Clients, and those financially responsible for them, must provide authorization before an AVS search is submitted.

Once a client or financially responsible person gives authorization for use of AVS, it remains in place until the client or the financially responsible person cancels the authorization in writing, they are no longer eligible for coverage, or the application is withdrawn or denied.

Worker responsibilities

NOTE: Please refer to your agency's AVS procedures documentation.

AVS authorization

Staff must receive authorization in order to run an AVS search. Tickles will be generated approximately 90 days prior to the end of the renewal month for clients who do not have an AVS authorization in place. 

Staff should review the case record to determine whether authorization was granted on an application or review form previously received, or authorization was granted and documented in the ACES narrative. 

If authorization was granted, update the AVS authorization field to "AVS Authorized."

If authorization is not provided, request AVS authorization from the client. 

If there has been a break in medical coverage for more than 30 days, a new authorization is required. 

At renewal

AVS will provide banking information for the month the AVS search is submitted.

Approximately 60 days prior to the end of the renewal month, if an AVS authorization is in place for the client and financially responsible people (if applicable), an AVS request will be sent overnight via batch process. Fifteen days after submission AVS results will populate in the AVS portal.

At application

For Medicaid programs that do not  have a 60 month look back period, the AVS will provide 4 months of financial institution account balance data from the application date.

For Medicaid programs that have a 60 month look back period, the AVS will review accounts balances and transfers for the 60 month period from the application date.

An AVS request is sent after both the client and financially responsible person (if applicable) have a status of "AVS authorized." At that point, all financial institutions on the ACES resource page that have been added through the financial institution search, will be sent to the AVS vendor to directly search for records at that those financial institutions. An AVS2 tickle will be set for 16 days following submission.

AVS results

Financial staff must contact the applicant or recipient and give them the opportunity to provide the needed information to resolve a discrepancy and determine ongoing eligibility when AVS returns information that indicates: 

  • Inconsistent withdrawals during the look back period (for LTSS programs with a transfer look back period); or 
  • Bank accounts that are over the resource standard; or
  • Accounts not listed on the application, or disclosed during the interview (if an adverse action may be necessary); or 
  • Any other questionable information.

Financial eligibility staff cannot deny or terminate a case based solely on the information received from AVS or LexisNexis. Alternate verification must be requested.

If the client is ineligible due to transfers in the 60 month look back period, determine if there is eligibility for another medical program without a look-back period: 

  • S-series AH if client is resource eligible
  • HWD if the client is disabled and working
  • TSOA eligibility

At application or eligibility review, once AVS results are received, document the client's resources in ACES.

Once results are reviewed in the portal and documented in ACES, the AVS case must be closed in the portal using closed/withdrawn. 

WAC 182-503-0055 Asset verification system

WAC 182-503-0055 Asset verification system

Effective September 12, 2020

  1. This rule implements the asset verification system (AVS) outlined in section 1940 of the Social Security Act.
  2. This rule applies to any client, or those financially responsible for them, who is subject to:
    1. The disclosure of resources, as defined in WAC 182-512-0200, to determine eligibility; or
    2. Provisions related to the transfer of assets, as described in WAC 182-513-1363.
  3. For the purposes of this section:
    1. "Financial institution" means the same as defined in section 1101 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act, and may include, but is not limited to:
      1. Banks; or
      2. Credit unions.
    2. "Financial record" means any record held by a financial institution pertaining to a customer's relationship with the financial institution; and
    3. "Financial responsibility" is described in WAC 182-506-0015.
  4. You and any other financially responsible people must provide authorization for us to obtain any financial record held by a financial institution.
    1. For you, the authorization may be provided by anyone described in WAC 182-503-0010 (1) and (2)(a), (b), or (c), except in the case of an authorized representative who must be designated by the client.
    2. For a financially responsible spouse, authorization may be provided by the spouse, their legal guardian, or their attorney-in-fact.
    3. The agency may grant an exception to rule as described in WAC 182-503-0090 if authorization is not provided by those listed in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
  5. The authorization, provided under subsection (4) of this section, will remain in effect until one of the following occurs:
    1. Your application for apple health is denied;
    2. Your eligibility for apple health is terminated; or
    3. You revoke your authorization in a written notification to us.
  6. We will:
    1. Use the authorization provided under subsection (4) of this section to electronically verify your financial records and those of any other financially responsible person to determine or renew your eligibility for apple health; or
    2. Inform you in writing at the time of application and renewal that we will obtain and use information available through AVS to determine your eligibility for apple health.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.