321—28.3 (231,249H) Definitions. Words and phrases as used in this chapter are as defined in 321 IAC 1 unless the context indicates otherwise. The following definitions also apply to this chapter:
“Client participation” means a payment system with an established fee or cost that allows:
	  1. 	 A senior with low income to receive services for a voluntary contribution toward the cost of the service;
	  2. 	 A senior with moderate income to receive services at less than the full service delivery cost; and
	  3. 	 A senior with above moderate income to purchase services at full cost.
“Contract” means the purchase of units of services on behalf of an aggregate clientele.
“Direct service” means a service to a client that is administered by the area agency on aging and provided by employees of the area agency on aging.
“Grant” means the use of funds to underwrite an operation to support the existence of a specific service provider.
“Income” means wages, salaries, business income, social security benefits, veteran’s administration benefits, disability payments, retirement or pension plan income, annuity income, interest income, supplemental security income, welfare payments, and other cash income.
“Long-term care services” means those services specified under the medical assistance home- and community-based services waiver for the elderly or the National Aging Program Information System (NAPIS), which are designed to directly promote the independence of seniors and to delay the use of institutional care by seniors with low and moderate incomes.
“Low income” means:
	  1. 	 For purposes of determining client eligibility for financial assistance under Iowa Code section 249H.7, household income of less than 300 percent of SSI;
	  2. 	 For purposes of funding distribution under Iowa Code chapter 249H, household income at or below the official poverty guideline as defined each year by the Office of Management and Budget and adjusted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Medical assistance program” means the financial assistance programs established in cooperation between the state of Iowa and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Medicaid state plan for lower-income Iowans with health and social needs.
“Moderate income” means income that is equal to or greater than 300 percent of SSI and less than 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline as defined each year by the Office of Management and Budget and adjusted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Provider” means an individual(s), agency(ies), public and private for-profit and not-for-profit organization(s) or other entity(ies) delivering long-term care services funded under these rules.
“Senior”  or “elder”  means an individual who is 60 years of age or older.
“Senior living program” means the senior living program created in Iowa Code chapter 249H to provide for long-term care alternative services, long-term care service development, and nursing facility conversion.
“Senior living trust fund(s)”  or “SLTF”  means the funding mechanism established in Iowa Code chapter 249H.
“Subcontractor of the area agencies on aging” means a provider receiving funds by contract with an area agency on aging.
“Supplemental security income (SSI)” means the income level defined each year by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the nationwide federal assistance program administered by SSA, which guarantees the defined minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals by providing basic cash support.
“Underserved” means:
	  1. 	 For service funding purposes, individuals aged 60 and over who are unable to access needed services; or
	  2. 	 Areas where the service identified as needed is not available because there is no provider for that service; or
	  3. 	 Existing providers of that service are regularly unable to deliver the amount of service needed.
“Voucher” means the mechanism used to purchase a specific service from a vendor on behalf of an individual client or clients.