CFR > Title 42 - Public Health > CHAPTER IV—CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES > SUBCHAPTER C—MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (parts 430 to 456) > PART 431—STATE ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION > SUBPART A—Single State Agency (§431.10 to §431.20) > 431.10—Single State agency.

431.10—Single State agency.

(a) Basis and purpose. This section implements section 1902(a)(5) of the Act, which provides for designation of a single State agency for the Medicaid program.
(b) Designation and certification. A State plan must—
(1) Specify a single State agency established or designated to administer or supervise the administration of the plan; and
(2) Include a certification by the State Attorney General, citing the legal authority for the single State agency to—
(i) Administer or supervise the administration of the plan; and
(ii) Make rules and regulations that it follows in administering the plan or that are binding upon local agencies that administer the plan.
(c) Determination of eligibility. (1) The plan must specify whether the agency that determines eligibility for families and for individuals under 21 is—
(i) The Medicaid agency; or
(ii) The single State agency for the financial assistance program under title IV-A (in the 50 States or the District of Columbia), or under title I or XVI (AABD), in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.
(2) The plan must specify whether the agency that determines eligibility for the aged, blind, or disabled is—
(i) The Medicaid agency;
(ii) The single State agency for the financial assistance program under title IV-A (in the 50 States or the District of Columbia) or under title I or XVI (AABD), in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands; or
(iii) The Federal agency administering the supplemental security income program under title XVI (SSI). In this case, the plan must also specify whether the Medicaid agency or the title IV-A agency determines eligibility for any groups whose eligibility is not determined by the Federal agency.
(d) Agreement with Federal or State agencies. The plan must provide for written agreements between the Medicaid agency and the Federal or other State agencies that determine eligibility for Medicaid, stating the relationships and respective responsibilities of the agencies.
(e) Authority of the single State agency. In order for an agency to qualify as the Medicaid agency—
(1) The agency must not delegate, to other than its own officials, authority to—
(i) Exercise administrative discretion in the administration or supervision of the plan, or
(ii) Issue policies, rules, and regulations on program matters.
(2) The authority of the agency must not be impaired if any of its rules, regulations, or decisions are subject to review, clearance, or similar action by other offices or agencies of the State.
(3) If other State or local agencies or offices perform services for the Medicaid agency, they must not have the authority to change or disapprove any administrative decision of that agency, or otherwise substitute their judgment for that of the Medicaid agency with respect to the application of policies, rules, and regulations issued by the Medicaid agency.
[44 FR 17930, Mar. 23, 1979]