New Mexico Register / Volume XXXIII, Issue 23 / December 13, 2022

 

 

This is an amendment to 8.249.600 NMAC, Sections 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15, effective 1/1/2023.

 

8.249.600.9          BENEFIT DESCRIPTION:  Refugee medical assistance (RMA) offers health coverage for refugees within the first [eight] 12 months from their date of entry to the United States, when they do not qualify for medicaid.  RMA eligible refugees have access to a benefit package that parallels the full coverage medicaid benefit package.  This program is not funded by medicaid.  RMA is funded through a grant under Title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  The purpose of this grant is to provide for the effective resettlement of refugees and to assist them to achieve economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.  Refer to 8.100.100 NMAC.

[8.249.600.9 NMAC - Rp, 8.249.600.9 NMAC, 1/1/2019; A, 1/1/2023]

 

8.249.600.11        INITIAL BENEFITS:

                A.            Approval or denial of application:  After the eligibility determination is made, the income support specialist (ISS) sends notice to the applicant or applicant group.  The denial notice contains information on the reason for the denial and explanation of appeal rights to the applicant(s).

                B.            Date of eligibility:  Eligibility starts with the first day of the month of application after all eligibility requirements are met.  The [eight-month] 12-month period begins with the month the refugee enters the United States, as documented by the immigration and naturalization service (INS) (form I-94).  For cases involving children born in the United States, the child’s eligibility period expires when the refugee parent who arrived last in the United States has been in this country for [eight] 12 months.

[8.249.600.11 NMAC - Rp, 8.249.600.11 NMAC, 1/1/2019; A, 1/1/2023]

 

8.249.600.12        ONGOING BENEFITS:  No periodic review is required, since coverage is limited to a maximum of [eight] 12 months from the date of entry into the United States.

[8.249.600.12 NMAC - Rp, 8.249.600.12 NMAC, 1/1/2019; A, 1/1/2023]

 

8.249.600.14        CASE CLOSURES:  Cases are closed when refugee medical assistance recipients no longer meet eligibility standards or after the [eight month] 12-month eligibility period expires, whichever comes first.

[8.249.600.14 NMAC - Rp, 8.249.600.14 NMAC, 1/1/2019; A, 1/1/2023]

 

8.249.600.15        CHANGES AND REDETERMINATIONS OF ELIGIBILITY:

                A.            A re-determination of eligibility is not required.

                B.            Changes in income are not reportable.  Reported income changes are not acted upon.

                C.            A refugee who received medicaid for [seven] 11 or fewer months during the RMA period is eligible for RMA for any remaining months in the [eight-month] 12-month RMA period.  Eligibility for RMA is determined without a new eligibility determination or application.

                D.            Residence changes must be reported within 10 days after the change for individuals placed in a public institution or those individuals moving out of New Mexico.  Refer to 8.200.450 NMAC.

[8.249.600.15 NMAC – Rp, 8.249.600.15 NMAC, 1/1/2019; A, 1/1/2023]