WAC 388-473-0020 When do we authorize meals as an ongoing additional requirement?

1. We authorize additional requirement benefits for meals when we decide all of the following conditions are true:

   1. You meet the criteria in WAC 388-473-0020; 

   2. You are physically or mentally impaired in your ability to prepare meals; and

   3. Getting help with meals would meet your nutrition or health needs and is not available to you through another federal or state source; such as the community options program entry system (COPES), Medicaid personal care (MPC), or informal support such as a relative or volunteer.

2. When we decide to provide meals as an additional requirement, we choose whether to authorize this benefit as restaurant meals or home-delivered meals.

3. We authorize restaurant meals when:

   1. You are unable to prepare some of your meals;

   2. You have some physical ability to leave your home; and

   3. Home-delivered meals are not available or would be more expensive.

4. We authorize home-delivered meals when:

   1. You are unable to prepare any of your meals;

   2. You are physically limited in your ability to leave your home; and

   3. Home-delivered meals are available.