– Reasonable Compatibility Rules

– Reasonable Compatibility Rules A. Income verified from electronic data sources that is reasonably compatible with self-attested income allows a Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) decision regarding eligibility without requesting paper verification from the applicant. B. The first test of reasonable compatibility for income is the comparison of income reported from the Mississippi Department of Human Services Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program against income declared or self-attested on the application form. If both sources are at or below the appropriate Medicaid income limit for the household size, Medicaid approval is allowed for individuals in the household who otherwise qualify for Medicaid. If both sources are above the Medicaid limit, Medicaid is denied but CHIP eligibility for children in the household will be assessed and adults in the household will referred to the Federal Market Place as appropriate. C. Discrepancies in income that result from comparing income from SNAP to self-attested income will result in a hierarchy of attempts to resolve the discrepancy prior to requesting that the applicant provide paper verification. Attempts include the comparison of income to a state- established threshold that would allow a decision and/or pending the decision awaiting secondary data sources to arrive for comparison purposes. A written request for paper verification will be requested only when: 1. The applicant fails to provide a reasonable explanation for the discrepancy when contacted. 2. Efforts to contact the individual to discuss reasons for any discrepancy fail. 3. Reported income is not available for verification through an electronic data source.