Definitions

The following definitions apply to veteran billing and payments as described in Section 27-102l(d)-250 through Section 27-102l(d)-299 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, unless expressly provided otherwise. (a) "Ability to manage financial affairs" is the mental and physical capacity of a veteran to receive, to deposit, and to order payment of obligations incurred and handle cash. (b) "Ability to pay" is an amount determined by the Commissioner that the veteran has available or can make available for the purpose of paying for services received from the Department and which sets the minimum payment due when the Department presents its monthly billing statement. (c) "Asset disregard" is the level of assets that is excluded from the calculation of the ability to pay. (d) "Community spouse allowance" means an income disregard, in addition to his personal need allowance, which a veteran may claim, if legally married, and thereby cause the computation of his ability to pay to be reduced by the lesser of the amount he actually pays to a spouse living in the community or the maximum disregard set in Section 27-102l(d)-257 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (e) "Countable assets" shall be all assets not excluded. (f) "Excluded asset" is an asset categorically excluded from the computation and determination of the ability to pay. (g) "Excluded income" is income categorically excluded from computation of the ability to pay. (h) "Income disregard" is the level of income that is excluded from the calculation of the ability to pay, based on the sum of personal needs allowance, community spouse allowance, child support, and alimony payments. (i) "Delinquent accounts receivable" means the cumulative dollar amount of all charges for any services rendered without regard to the determination of the ability to pay less amounts credited to that veteran's account and less amounts billed as a minimum payment due, but not past due. The delinquent accounts receivable becomes payable at such time the Department determines that the responsible party is able to pay or after the death of the veteran from his estate. (j) "Minimum payment due now" means a specific dollar amount which the Commissioner demands that the veteran immediately pay over to the department based on the Commissioner's determination of the veteran's ability to pay. (k) "Monthly billing statement" is a notice to the veteran of the minimum payment due now and a demand for payment in a specific amount which the veteran is required to pay over to the Department immediately to maintain an account in good standing. (l) "Veteran billing system" is the information system that the Department uses for the computing, invoicing, billing, collecting and crediting accounts for each veteran participating in a program, activity or service for which the Department charges or receives payment form the participants and others. (m) "Past due amount" is the cumulative total of the minimum payment due now, minus payment received by the Department from the veteran. (n) "Veteran invoice" is a monthly report of days of care rendered to a veteran during the month, multiplied by the applicable fee or per diem. The veteran invoice shall also include any fees for any other services rendered to the veteran. (o) "Personal needs allowance" means an income disregard which the Commissioner may not use in the computation of the ability to pay and which the veteran may retain from his income for personal use during the month received without restriction. (p) "Personal representative" is any person representing the veteran in his financial affairs, including persons holding a valid power of attorney, attorney-in-fact, spouse, or other person in possession of the veteran's estate and serving in a fiduciary capacity. (q) "Statement of account" is an ongoing detailed listing of: (1) The cumulative delinquent accounts receivable, (2) Amounts charged for services rendered during all periods of admission, care or treatment, (3) Amounts credited during all periods of admission, care, treatment and thereafter, and (4) Any amounts due and owing to the Department. (r) "Support payment" means an income disregard, in addition to his personal need allowance, which a veteran may claim if subject to a court order to pay for the maintenance of a former spouse (alimony), an adult disabled child, or a minor, or the amount actually paid, whichever is less. It may not include any gratuitous payments.