OAR 461-135-0701: Terminate GA and GAM Programs October 1, 2005; Reinstate GA July 1, 2016

(1) Effective October 1, 2005, funding for the General Assistance (GA) and General Assistance Medical (GAM) programs was discontinued. These programs closed, effective October 1, 2005. (2) Effective September 30, 2005, all persons eligible for or receiving benefits of the GA or GAM programs became ineligible for these programs. Except as provided in sections (4) and (5) of this rule, the Department did not authorize or provide any benefit under the GA or GAM programs after September 30, 2005. (3) Effective October 1, 2005, all GA recipients who received medical assistance through the OSIPM program continued to receive OHP Plus benefits through the OSIPM program until they became otherwise ineligible. (4) Effective October 1, 2005, all recipients of medical assistance through the GAM program who became ineligible for GAM on September 30, 2005 because of the closure of the GAM program received OHP benefits as follows: (a) Clients who had been determined to meet the eligibility (see OAR 461-001-0000) requirements of the OSIPM program (see OAR 461-125-0370 and the OSIPM eligibility requirements in OAR 461 Division 135) received the OHP Plus benefits package (see OAR 410-120-1210(2)(a)). (b) Clients may have also received the OHP Plus benefits package for the period that; (A) The Department had not previously made a determination about whether the client met the disability requirements for OSIPM under OAR 461-125-0370 and the OSIPM eligibility requirements in OAR 461 Division 135; and (B) A determination was still pending about whether the client met the disability requirements for OSIPM under OAR 461-125-0370 and the OSIPM eligibility requirements in OAR 461 Division 135. (c) Clients who did not qualify for the OHP Plus benefits may have been eligible for the OHP-OPU program under the eligibility requirements set out in OAR 461 Division 135, and if eligible, received the OHP Standard benefits package (see OAR 410-120-1210(2)(b)). (5) Effective July 1, 2016, the GA program was restarted as provided in Oregon Laws 2016, chapter 93 and current eligibility rules. (6) The GA program reinstated on July 1, 2016 is limited to 200 individuals per month. (a) When the GA program reaches the limit of 200 individuals per month receiving benefits, the Department will place any individual referred for GA on a reservation list. (b) When a slot becomes available, the Department will determine eligibility for the individual with the earliest date of request (see OAR 461-115-0030) and, if eligible, that individual will begin receiving benefits. When more than one individual has the same date of request, the Department will select from those individuals based on the time the referral was received by the Collaborative Disability Determination Unit (CDDU).