(A) Except as otherwise provided by this section, no individual shall qualify for nursing facility services or other medicaid-funded long-term care services if the individual's equity interest in the individual's home exceeds five hundred thousand dollars. The medicaid director shall increase this amount effective January 1, 2011, and the first day of each year thereafter, by 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.

(B) This section does not apply to an individual if either of the following applies:

(1) Either of the following lawfully reside in the individual's home:

(a) The individual's spouse;

(b) The individual's child if the child is under twenty-one years of age or, under the "Social Security Act," section 1614, 42 U.S.C. 1382c, considered blind or disabled.

(2) The individual qualifies, pursuant to the process established under division (C) of this section, for a waiver of this section due to a demonstrated hardship.

(C) The director shall establish a process by which individuals may obtain a waiver of this section due to a demonstrated hardship. The process shall be consistent with the process for such waivers established by the United States secretary of health and human services under the "Social Security Act," section 1917(f)(4), 42 U.S.C. 1396p(f)(4).

(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing an individual from using a reverse mortgage or home equity loan to reduce the individual's total equity interest in the home.

Renumbered from § 5111.0118 by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 03-30-2006 .