Medical Services Policy Updates Related to Resource Determinations (Concerning 20 CAR pts. 500, 570)

Department of Human Services · Division of County Operations and Division of Medical Services

Status: Reviewed by ALC
Citation: 20 CAR pts. 500, 570
Comment deadline: May 18, 2026
Public hearing: —
ALC review: Aug 20, 2026 · item E.44.a · ALC Administrative Rules
Effective: —

Statement of Necessity The Division of County Operations updates the Medical Services Policy Manual related to three areas of resource determinations. First, the manual is updated to clarify the treatment of Independence Accounts and moves those details to the manual section covering all personal property exclusions. Second, an update is needed to detail treatment of 529 Educational Accounts as resources. Third, a clarification is made regarding the treatment of Title IV-E Adoption Subsidies. The update regarding Independence Accounts necessitates an amendment to the Arkansas Medicaid State Plan Eligibility Group summary details.

No public hearing was held on this rule. The period expired on May 18, 2026. The agency indicated that it received no comments. The agency provided the following substantive comments received from CMS, along with the agency’s responses: 1. Medically Needy Income Level RU: The state has included income standards for household sizes of 1 and 2, with an incremental increase of $58.33 per additional household member. The MNIL currently reflected in the state plan at Supplement 1 to Attachment 2.6-A pages 8 and 9 matches this information for HH sizes of 1 and 2, however applying the incremental increase, starting at household sizes 5 and up, there are significant discrepancies between the current MNIL and what is proposed in this SPA. Please confirm the levels to be used, and either include larger household sizes with corresponding dollar amounts in the RU, or clarify that the increased levels included in the current submission are correct. RESPONSE: Incorrectly included the non-ABD levels, corrected to just HH sizes of 1 and 2. 2. Age and Disability-Related Poverty Level: Attachment 2.6A, Supplement 8b, page 3 contains an additional disregard that applies to “ARSeniors” (Section 1902(m

Experimental. Compiled from public records; inaccuracies may occur. Verify with official sources.

Medical Services Policy Updates Related to Resource Determinations (Concerning 20 CAR pts. 500, 570)

More