§ 71-5-1311. Veterans Education Benefits
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, to the extent permitted by federal law, the value of federal veterans education benefits received by an applicant shall not be included as any form of income when making eligibility determinations for assistance under this part.
§ 71-5-1301. Creation of Grant Assistance Program
There is hereby created a grant assistance program to provide financial support for eligible individuals residing in nursing homes licensed by the state, which individuals do not have their nursing home care paid for, in whole or in part, by a federal, state or combined federal-state medical care program.
§ 71-5-1302. Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a grant assistance payment under this part, an individual must meet the following qualifications: The individual must have resided or be residing, after June 30, 1992, in a facility licensed by the state as a nursing home. Residents in facilities certified as intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded […]
§ 71-5-1303. Application for Payment — Nursing Home Certification to Department
An application for grant assistance program payments must be made by the individual or such individual’s legally authorized representative on forms prescribed by regulations of the department of health. Such forms shall include a certification of the individual’s annual income for the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning of the state fiscal year during which […]
§ 71-5-1304. Processing of Applications — Funding — Determination of Grant
Applications shall be processed by the department on a first come, first served basis and are subject to the amount annually appropriated for this program in the general appropriations act. Based on the application, the department shall calculate a projected annual nursing home expense for the individual, which shall be the average per diem nursing […]
§ 71-5-1305. Grant Payments
Grant payments under this part shall be made to the individual monthly and forwarded to such person at the place of such individual’s residence. Grant payments are non-assignable and payable only to the individual or such individual’s legally authorized representative, which shall not be the nursing home.
§ 71-5-1306. Rules and Regulations
The department of health is authorized to promulgate regulations pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, as necessary to implement this part. Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner of health is authorized to promulgate such initial rules as emergency rules pursuant to § 4-5-208.
§ 71-5-1307. [reserved.]
The department of health is authorized to administer this part, including, but not limited to, the ability to contract with other state agencies or entities to make payments or verify income as required by this part.
§ 71-5-1309. Funding
This part shall have no application unless funding is specifically provided for and included in the general appropriations act. During any fiscal year, payments under this part shall not exceed the level of funding specifically provided for such purposes within the general appropriations act.
§ 71-5-1310. Total Annual Income — Certification of Income
The amount of total annual income certified by an individual in order to qualify for a grant pursuant to this part shall include income from all sources. The certification of income by the resident shall be subject to verification by the department in its discretion.