Rule 511-5-10-.03. Eligibility Requirements for Cancer State Aid Patients

1. 1) Eligibility for program enrollment is determined at the time of application by the Cancer State Aid Program of the Department of Public Health.

   1. a) Each patient must apply for program enrollment each state fiscal year.
   2. b) Payment for treatment and evaluation is limited to currently available program funds.

2. 2) State Residency Criteria

   Applicants must be Georgia residents at the time of application. A resident is anyone who is living in Georgia voluntarily with the intention of making Georgia his or her permanent home.

3. 3) Legal Residency Criteria

   An applicant must be United States citizen; a legal permanent resident; or a qualified alien or nonimmigrant under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, Title 8 United States Code, and lawfully present in the United States, in which case the applicant must provide the alien number assigned by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

4. 4) Medical Criteria

   1. a) Patients shall have medical documentation of a cancer diagnosis, or symptoms or physical findings that have been medically evaluated, documented, and determined to create a high suspicion of cancer.
   2. b) Patients who are referred with a presumptive diagnosis of cancer will be accepted for only those procedures necessary to establish a cancer diagnosis. Once those procedures are complete, staging of the confirmed cancer diagnosis must be determined and a report submitted to the Cancer State Aid Program.
   3. c) If the diagnosis is found to be non-malignant, the financial obligation of the State ceases and no further medical expenses may be paid with Cancer State Aid funds.
   4. d) Patients who are no longer receiving cancer treatment, and whose care is limited to supportive care only, are ineligible.

5. 5) Financial Criteria

   Financial eligibility will be determined by the Cancer State Aid program and is based upon family size, annual income, other assets, and ongoing and outstanding medical expenses.

Authority: O.C.G.A. Secs. 31-2A-6, 31-15-5.

History. Previously rule 290-5-10-.03. Original Rule entitled "Eligibility Requirements for Cancer State Aid Patients" adopted. F. Apr. 11, 2012; eff. May 1, 2012.