(a) For the purposes of this section, “equity interest” means the lesser of the following:

(1) The assessed value of the principal residence determined under the most recent tax assessment, less any encumbrances of record.

(2)  The appraised value of the principal residence determined by a qualified real estate appraiser who has been retained by the applicant or beneficiary, less any encumbrances of record.

(b)  Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 14006, and except as provided in subdivision (c), an individual is not eligible for medical assistance for home and facility care if his or her equity interest in the principal residence exceeds seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000). No later than December 31, 2011, and each year thereafter, this amount shall be increased based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items, United States city average), rounded to the nearest one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(c) This section does not apply to an individual if any of the following circumstances exist:

(1) The spouse of the individual or the individual’s child, who is under 21 years of age, or who is blind or who is disabled, as defined in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 1382c of Title 42 of the United States Code, is lawfully residing in the individual’s home.

(2) The individual was determined eligible for medical assistance for home and facility care based on an application filed before January 1, 2006.

(3) The department determines that ineligibility for medical assistance for home and facility care would result in demonstrated hardship on the individual. For purposes of this section, demonstrated hardship shall include, but need not be limited to, any of the following circumstances:

(A) The individual was receiving home and facility care prior to January 1, 2006.

(B) The individual has been determined to be eligible for medical assistance for home and facility care based on an application filed on or after January 1, 2006, and before the date that regulations adopted pursuant to this section are certified with the Secretary of State.

(C) The individual purchased and received benefits under a long-term care insurance policy certified by the department’s California Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, established by Division 12 (commencing with Section 22000).

(D) The individual’s equity interest in the principal residence exceeds the equity interest limit as provided in subdivision (b), but would not exceed the equity interest limit under that subdivision if it had been increased by using the quarterly House Price Index (HPI) for California, published by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO).

(E) The applicant or beneficiary has been denied a home equity loan by at least three lending institutions, or is ineligible for any one Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved loan or reverse mortgage.

(F) The applicant or beneficiary, with good cause, is unable to provide verification of the equity value.

(G) The applicant or beneficiary meets the criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 14015.1.

(d) To the extent that federal financial participation is unavailable to cover the costs associated with subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), state general funds shall be used.

(e) This section shall be implemented pursuant to the requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.) and any regulations adopted pursuant to that act, and except for subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), and subdivision (d), only to the extent that federal financial participation is available.

(f) To the extent that regulations are necessary to implement this section, the department shall promulgate regulations using the nonemergency regulatory process described in Article 5 (commencing with Section 11346) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of the Government Code.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this section shall apply prospectively to any individual to whom the act applies commencing from the date regulations adopted pursuant to this act are filed with the Secretary of State.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 379, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2009.)