The Health Care Programs Manual glossary contains definitions of many terms related to Minnesota Health Care Programs. These definitions are intended for general reference; for complete policy information, please refer to the relevant section(s) of the manual.
Click on a letter below to link to that section of the glossary.
S-Corporation
A small business corporation of 35 or fewer shareholders. Each shareholder reports his or her share of income or loss separately.
Sage Screening Program
A free statewide comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screening program administered by the Minnesota Department of Health with a primary objective to increase the proportion of low or moderate income age-appropriate women who are screened for breast and cervical cancer.
SAPSNF
Statewide Average Payment for a Skilled Nursing Facility. The monthly SAPSNF is used to determine the period of ineligibility for long-term care services or GAMC resulting from an improper transfer.
Satisfaction Date
The date on which the client has incurred medical costs that meet or exceed the medical spenddown amount.
SAVE
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement. A process which allows access to USCIS data to validate the immigration status of noncitizen applicants, or for enrollees who report a change in immigration status, for MA, RMA, MinnesotaCare for Families with Children, and GAMC. Workers access the USCIS data through the Alien Status Verification System (ASVS).
SCHIP
State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This program provides federal matching funds to help states expand health care coverage for the nation's uninsured children.
SDXI and SDXS
A monthly IEVS tape exchange between the Social Security Administration and DHS. It includes information on the SSI grant and income and asset information SSA uses to compute the grant. It is the State Data Exchange Report.
Seasonal Income
Income that is regularly received for only part of the year.
Section 179 Expense
A federal income tax deduction that is the maximum deduction for certain property in the year the business owner purchases the property.
Self-Employment
Employment in which people generally work for themselves rather than an employer and are responsible for their own work schedule. Self-employed people must file specific schedules as part of their federal tax returns.
Self-Insured
An employee health insurance plan that an employer administers itself or through an insurer, trust, or agent. Under a self-insured plan, the employer provides coverage to employees directly or indirectly rather than purchasing coverage from an insurance company. Self-insured plans are regulated under the Employer Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and are not subject to state insurance regulations.
Semi-Independent Living Services (SILS) Program
A program that provides training, counseling, and supervision services for people who need less than 24-hour care.
Service Limited Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
A Medicare Savings Program that pays for the Medicare Part B premium.
Servicing Agency
See County of Service.
SGA
Substantial Gainful Activity. A level of work activity and earnings, defined by the Social Security Administration.
Shareholder
A person who owns shares in a publicly held company.
Short-Term Stay
A stay in a long-term care facility for less than 30 days. This includes respite care.
Siblings
Brothers and sisters related through one or both parents.
SILS
Semi-Independent Living Services Program. A program that provides training, counseling, and supervision services for people who need less than 24-hour care.
SIS
Special Income Standard. An income standard equal to three times the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). It is used to determine eligibility for some elderly waiver (EW) clients.
SIS-EW
Special Income Standard Elderly Waiver. An MA program for clients who receive Elderly Waiver (EW) services and whose income is at or below the Special Income Standard (SIS).
SLMB
Service Limited Medicare Beneficiary. A Medicare Savings Program that pays for the Medicare Part B premium.
SMRT
State Medical Review Team. A unit at DHS that determines disability in consultation with medical professionals appointed by the commissioner.
Social Security
A term used to describe payments from the Social Security Administration.
Social Security Act
A federal law authorizing such programs as RSDI, TANF, SSI, and MA.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
A federal agency which administers the SSI, RSDI and Medicare programs.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI or SSD)
A benefit to disabled or blind individuals who have contributed to FICA. It may be discontinued if a person reaches a certain level of income. It is also referred to as Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI).
Sole Benefit
A term used to indicate that only the spouse or disabled person can benefit now or in the future from an asset, unless it will revert to the state to repay MA.
Sole Proprietor
A person who is the sole owner of an unincorporated self-employment business.
Special Income Standard (SIS)
An income standard equal to three times the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). It is used to determine eligibility for some elderly waiver (EW) clients.
Special Personal Allowance
An income disregard for certain MA clients with mental retardation.
Special Recovery Unit (SRU)
The unit within DHS that bills and collects MA-EPD premiums.
Spenddown
The amount that a person’s income exceeds the applicable MA income standard. People with an MA basis of eligibility may become eligible by incurring medical expenses equal to or greater than the amount of excess income. There are several types of spenddowns including monthly medical spenddown, six-month medical spenddown, LTC spenddown and combination LTC/medical spenddown.
Spenddown Satisfaction Date
Also known as Satisfaction Date. The date the client meets or exceeds his or her medical spenddown amount.
Sponsor
For purposes of Minnesota Health Care Program eligibility, a sponsor is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) who signs a USCIS form I-864, Affidavit of Support, on behalf of a noncitizen as a condition of the noncitizen’s entry into the U.S.
Spousal Maintenance
An allowance for support that a court orders a person to pay to his or her current or former spouse. Formerly referred to as alimony.
Spouse
A person who is legally married to another person; a husband or wife.
SRU
Special Recovery Unit. The unit within DHS that bills and collects MA-EPD premiums.
SSA
Social Security Administration. A federal agency which administers the SSI, RSDI and Medicare programs.
SSDI or SSD
Social Security Disability Insurance. SSDI is a benefit to disabled or blind individuals who have contributed to FICA. It may be discontinued if a person reaches a certain level of income. It is also referred to as Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI).
SSI
Supplemental Security Income. A program based on financial need operated by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly income to low income people who are age 65 or older, blind or disabled.
SSN
Social Security Number.
State Adoption Assistance
State-funded adoption assistance for children who do not qualify for federally funded IV-E adoption assistance.
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This program provides federal matching funds to help states expand health care coverage for the nation's uninsured children.
State Medical Review Team (SMRT)
A unit at DHS that determines disability in consultation with medical professionals appointed by the commissioner.
Stepparent
A person who is not a child's biological or adoptive parent but is the spouse of a child's biological or adoptive parent.
Stepsibling
The biological or adoptive child of a child's stepparent.
Student
A person enrolled in and attending an educational institution.
Student Financial Aid
Loans, grants, scholarships, and work study funds to be used for educational and living expenses while attending school.
Substantial Change
A change in income from what a household reported on the previous year's tax forms.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
A level of work activity and earnings, defined by the Social Security Administration.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A program based on financial need operated by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly income to low income people who are age 65 or older, blind or disabled.
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE)
A process which allows access to USCIS data to validate the immigration status of noncitizen applicants, or for enrollees who report a change in immigration status, for MA, RMA, MinnesotaCare for Families with Children, and GAMC. Workers access the USCIS data through the Alien Status Verification System (ASVS).
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA)
An MA waiver program that provides eligibility to some disabled children who live with their families.
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury. An MA waiver program for people diagnosed with a brain injury.
TEFRA
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act. An MA waiver program that provides eligibility to some disabled children who live with their families.
Temporary Absence
A period of time a person may be physically absent from a residence but still considered to be in the household.
Ten-Day Notice
Notification sent to the client at least ten calendar days before the effective date of an agency action. Most adverse actions, such as denial, reduction, or termination of health care benefits, require ten-day notice.
Tenants-In-Common
A form of property ownership in which each owner of real property has an undivided interest in the property and is able to sell their share of the property without obtaining the permission of the other owners.
Tennessen Notice
The former name of the statement of rights given to people who are asked to provide private or confidential data about themselves. This statement is now known as the Notice of Privacy Practices.
Termination
A discontinuation of program participation and benefits. Also known as cancellation and closure.
Third Party Liability (TPL)
The obligation of a person or organization other than MA, GAMC, or MinnesotaCare to pay for a person's medical expenses. Examples of TPL include group or private health insurance, auto insurance, worker's compensation, and personal liability insurance.
Third Party Payment
A person or entity other than the client pays for the cost of a medical expense.
Three Generation Household
A household consisting of an adult parent, the child of the adult parent who is a minor caretaker and the minor caretaker's child.
Time Deposits
Another term for a savings account or certificate of deposit (CD) held in a financial institution, usually a bank.
Timely Notice
A notice sent in advance of the proposed action as required by program rules.
Title IV-D
The part of the Social Security Act that authorizes establishing paternity and collecting child and medical support by the IV-D unit.
Title IV-E Adoption Assistance
Federal funding for adoption assistance for children who meet IV-E requirements.
Title IV-E Foster Care
Federal funding for foster care for children who meet IV-E requirements.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
A national law that protects people from discrimination based on their race, color, or national origin for programs that receive federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Title XIX
The section of the Social Security Act authorizing the MA Program.
TMA
Transitional Medical Assistance. Up to four months of additional medical coverage provided to some people terminated from regular MA because of increased child or spousal support.
Tort Liability
The legal obligation of a party responsible for an accident or injury to pay for the resulting costs.
Tort Settlement
Compensation awarded because of a lawsuit filed to recover costs related to an accident or injury.
TPL
Third Party Liability. The obligation of a person or organization other than MA, GAMC, or MinnesotaCare to pay for a person's medical expenses. Examples of TPL include group or private health insurance, auto insurance, worker's compensation, and personal liability insurance.
Transfer
To cause right, title, or interest in real or personal property to pass from one person to another.
Transition Year Medical Assistance (TYMA)
Up to 12 months of additional medical coverage provided to some people terminated from regular MA due to increased earnings, loss of earned income disregards, or a combination of loss of child/spousal support and increased earnings/loss of earned income disregards.
Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA)
Up to four months of additional medical coverage provided to some people terminated from regular MA because of increased child or spousal support.
Transitional MinnesotaCare
A Minnesota Health Care Program for which some adults without children are eligible while making the transition from General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) to MinnesotaCare eligibility.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
An MA waiver program for people diagnosed with a brain injury.
TRICARE
A Department of Defense health insurance program providing coverage to active-duty and non-active duty members of the armed forces and their dependents, and certain civilian employees. This program was formerly known as CHAMPUS.
TRICARE for Life
A Department of Defense health insurance program providing Medicare supplement entitlement for Medicare-eligible military retirees and their dependents. To receive coverage a person must be over age 65 and have Medicare Part B.
Trust
Any arrangement in which a grantor transfers money or property to a trustee with the intention that it be held, managed or administered by the trustee for the benefit of certain designated persons.
Trust Agreement
The legal documentation establishing a trust.
Trust Corpus
Income and/or assets that form the main body of a trust. Assets or income in the trust corpus may be available to a person but the person no longer owns them. Also known as the trust principal.
Trust Instrument
Also known as Trust Agreement. The legal documentation establishing a trust.
Trust Principal
Also known as Trust Corpus. Income and/or assets that form the main body of a trust. Assets or income in the trust corpus may be available to a person but the person no longer owns them.
Trustee
A person or entity which holds the legal title to money or property for the benefit of another person or persons for certain specified purposes. A trustee may also be a beneficiary if specified in the trust. A trustee has the responsibility to manage the trust's resources and income for the benefit of the beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust and requirements of state law.
Trustor
Also called the grantor or settlor, is the person or entity which creates or establishes the trust.
TYMA
Transition Year Medical Assistance. Up to 12 months of additional medical coverage provided to some people terminated from regular MA due to increased earnings, loss of earned income disregards, or a combination of loss of child/spousal support and increased earnings/loss of earned income disregards.
U.S. Citizen
A person (other than the child of a foreign diplomat) born in one of the several States or in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands who has not renounced or otherwise lost his or her citizenship; or a person born outside of the United States to at least one U.S. citizen parent (sometimes referred to as a ’r;’r;derivative citizen’’); or a naturalized U.S. citizen.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The federal agency responsible for immigration and citizenship. This agency was formerly known as the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
U.S. National
A person born in American Samoa or Swains Island who does not derive U.S. citizenship from a parent or acquire it from a spouse. U.S. nationals are considered U.S. citizens for purposes of Social Security and for the citizenship documentation requirement under the federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005.
UBEN
An IEVS tape exchange, containing Unemployment Insurance data, with the Minnesota Department of Economic Security completed monthly for enrollees and semi-monthly for applicants for federal programs.
UGMA
Uniform Gift to Minors Act. Former name for the Uniform Transfer to Minors. Allows an adult to contribute to a custodial account in a minor's name without having to establish a trust or name a legal guardian. The minors can have securities bought and money invested in their names, while the custodian is responsible for managing the funds in the account. The custodian has a fiduciary duty to manage the account prudently, but once the minor reaches the age of majority, he/she has complete rights to the funds in the account. The assets are the legal property of the minor, and the parent has no legal control over the uses of the proceeds of the account. The Uniform Transfers to Minors Act supersedes The Uniform Gift to Minors Act.
UI
Unemployment Insurance. A state cash payment made to some people who have lost their jobs. This program was formerly known as Reemployment Insurance in Minnesota.
UIO
Unearned Income Obligation. An amount added to premiums for MA-EPD clients who have unearned income. The UIO is .005 (one-half of one percent) of the unearned income.
Uncompensated Transfer
Giving away, selling, conveying ownership or otherwise disposing of income or assets without receiving adequate compensation.
Underinsured
Health insurance which lacks coverage in two or more major areas of coverage as set by MinnesotaCare policy for Eligibility Group One children.
Undisbursed Income
Income that could be paid out of a trust to the beneficiary, but remains in the trust.
Undocumented
Term referring to people living in the U.S. without the knowledge or approval of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Unearned Income
Income received without being required to perform any labor or service.
Unearned Income Obligation (UIO)
An amount added to premiums for MA-EPD clients who have unearned income. The UIO is .005 (one-half of one percent) of the unearned income.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
A state cash payment made to some people who have lost their jobs. This program was formerly known as Reemployment Insurance in Minnesota.
Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA)
Former name for the Uniform Transfer to Minors. Allows an adult to contribute to a custodial account in a minor's name without having to establish a trust or name a legal guardian. The minors can have securities bought and money invested in their names, while the custodian is responsible for managing the funds in the account. The custodian has a fiduciary duty to manage the account prudently, but once the minor reaches the age of majority, he/she has complete rights to the funds in the account. The assets are the legal property of the minor, and the parent has no legal control over the uses of the proceeds of the account. The Uniform Transfers to Minors Act supersedes The Uniform Gift to Minors Act.
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
An Act which allows an adult to contribute to a custodial account in a minor's name without having to establish a trust or name a legal guardian. The minors can have securities bought and money invested in their names, while the custodian is responsible for managing the funds in the account. The custodian has a fiduciary duty to manage the account prudently, but once the minor reaches the age of majority, he/she has complete rights to the funds in the account. The assets are the legal property of the minor, and the parent has no legal control over the uses of the proceeds of the account. The Uniform Transfers to Minors Act supersedes The Uniform Gift to Minors Act.
Unvarying Income
Income that can reasonably be anticipated to be the same amount every month.
UNVI
An IEVS tape exchange of Unverified Unearned Income completed annually for recipients and monthly for applicants of federal programs. The source is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports information such as dividends, interest, and lottery winnings.
USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The federal agency responsible for immigration and citizenship, formerly known as the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). This agency was formerly known as Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
Varying Income
Income that cannot reasonably be anticipated to be the same amount every month. For example, most earned income for non-salaried employees is varying income. Most monthly benefit payments such as Social Security are unvarying income.
Verification
The process and evidence used to establish accuracy or completeness of information from a client, third party, or authorized representative. Verification is also referred to as proof or documentation.
Veterans' Benefits
Benefits and services provided by the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) to people who have served in the U.S. armed forces and their dependents.
Visa
A document which allows the bearer to apply for entry to the U.S. in a certain classification. It does not grant the bearer the right to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) immigration inspectors determine admission into, length of stay and conditions of stay in, the U.S. at a port of entry. The information on a nonimmigrant visa only relates to when an individual may apply for entry into the U.S.
Wage Match
An IEVS tape exchange with the Minnesota Department of Economic Security completed quarterly for recipients and monthly for applicants of federal programs. It provides information on wages earned in Minnesota.
Waiver
A suspension or change of a federal regulation, service limitation, or eligibility requirement.
Waiver Obligation
The amount of income over the maintenance needs allowance that people eligible for SIS-EW must contribute toward the monthly cost of waiver services.
WIA
Workforce Investment Act. Federal legislation passed in 1998 to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States, and for other purposes.
WIC
Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program. A federal program authorized by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide nutritious food and nutrition education to low-income pregnant and postpartum women and their children.
Widow and Widower Disregard
An unearned income disregard available to some MA clients who are widows or widowers with a disability.
Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
A federal program authorized by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide nutritious food and nutrition education to low-income pregnant and postpartum women and their children.
Worker
An employee of a county agency or MinnesotaCare Operations who determines initial and continued eligibility for the Minnesota Health Care Programs.
Workers' Compensation
A state program providing payments and reimbursement of medical expenses for people injured on the job.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Federal legislation passed in 1998 to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States, and for other purposes.