441—76.2 (249A) Information and verification procedure. The decision with respect to eligibility shall be based primarily on information and verification furnished by the applicant or member. Signing a general authorization for release of information to the department does not meet this responsibility.
	 76.2(1) Interviews.
	  a.   	 In processing applications for Medicaid for adults, the department may require a face-to-face or telephone interview upon notice to the applicant. An interview is not required as a condition of eligibility for children.
	  b.   	 For SSI-related Medicaid for adults, the department may require a face-to-face or telephone interview at the time of review.
	  c.   	 The department shall notify the applicant of the date, time and method of an interview. This notice shall be provided to the applicant personally, by telephone, by e-mail, by mail or by facsimile. Interviews that are rescheduled at the request of the applicant or authorized representative may be agreed upon verbally, by e-mail, or by facsimile; a written confirmation is not required.
	  d.   	 Failure of the applicant or member to attend a scheduled interview shall serve as a basis for rejection of an application or cancellation of assistance for adults. Failure of the applicant or member to attend an interview shall not serve as a basis for rejection of an application or cancellation of assistance for children.
	 76.2(2) Choice of coverage groups. An applicant who meets the eligibility requirements of more than one coverage group shall be given the choice of coverage group under which eligibility shall be determined.
	 76.2(3) Conditional benefits granted previous to October 1, 1993. When the client is receiving Medicaid under the conditional benefit policy of the SSI program pursuant to 441—subrule 75.13(2), the client shall be required to describe the efforts that are made to sell the property on Form 470-2908, Description of Efforts to Sell Property, as requested by the department. The department shall request that the form be completed no more often than specified. For personal property being sold Form 470-2908 shall be completed no more often than every 30 days during the conditional benefit period. For real property being sold Form 470-2908 shall be completed beginning 35 days after conditional benefits are granted and no more often than every 60 days thereafter for nine months. If eligibility continues and the real property is not sold, the form shall be completed no more often than every 90 days.
	 76.2(4) Providing additional information. The department shall notify the applicant in writing of additional information or verification that is required to establish eligibility. This notice shall be provided to the applicant or member personally or by mail or facsimile.
	  a.   	 The department shall allow the applicant ten calendar days to supply the information or verification requested. Applicants for whom eligibility is determined in whole or in part by the Social Security Administration shall make application to the Social Security Administration within ten calendar days of referral by the department.
	  b.   	 The department may extend the deadline for a reasonable period of time when the applicant is making every effort but is unable to secure the required information or verification from a third party.
	  c.   	 The application shall be denied or assistance shall be canceled if the department does not receive one of the following by the due date:
	 (1) 	 The information or verification,
	 (2) 	 An authorization to obtain the information or verification, or
	 (3) 	 A request for an extension of the due date.
	  d.   	 If benefits are denied for failure to provide information and the information is provided within 14 calendar days of the effective date of the denial, the department shall complete the eligibility determination as though the information were received timely. If the fourteenth calendar day falls on a weekend or state holiday, the applicant shall have until the next business day to provide the information.
	 76.2(5) Reporting of changes. The applicant shall report any change as defined at 441—paragraph 75.52(4)“c” which occurs during the application process within ten calendar days of the change. Changes that occur after approval for benefits shall be reported in accordance with 441—paragraph 75.52(4)“c.”
[ARC 7740B, IAB 5/6/09, effective 6/10/09; ARC 8500B, IAB 2/10/10, effective 3/1/10; ARC 9701B, IAB 9/7/11, effective 9/1/11; ARC 0150C, IAB 6/13/12, effective 8/1/12]