Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) is a federally funded program for refugees, asylees, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, Cuban/Haitian parolees or entrants, victims of human trafficking, Afghan/Iraqi Special Immigrants, and Certain Amerasians only. It is not the same as Medicaid (Title XIX).

Refugees who do not receive RCA may be eligible for RMA only, provided they are not eligible for any other category of Medicaid.

RMA is available to refugees only during their first twelve months in the United States.

A refugee is not eligible for RMA if he or she is under a period of sanction for having failed or refused to participate in the employability requirements of Section 1349 - Work Requirement. However, the dependent family of such an ineligible applicant may apply for and receive RMA.

When a refugee applies for Refugee Medical Assistance only, the eligibility case manager shall first determine if the applicant would be eligible for Medicaid. If the applicant is found not to be eligible for Medicaid, the eligibility shall be determined according to the requirements of this section.

If a Refugee is eligible for RMA, the three months prior eligibility applies to RMA just as it does to Medicaid. Eligibility for each prior month will be determined separately.

Eligibility standards for the Medicaid Program are applicable to RMA eligibility with the exception that requirements for categorical relatedness for medical assistance may not be imposed. Actual receipt of, or application for, financial assistance for living expenses may not be required as a condition of eligibility for RMA. The Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) used as the RMA financial standard is 200%.

The Standard of Promptness for the eligibility case manager to complete a RMA application is 45 days from the date of application. The procedures for the application process follow the same procedures outlined in the Medicaid policy manual.

If an individual who is receiving RCA and RMA becomes ineligible solely by reason of increased earnings from employment, he or she shall remain eligible for RMA (transitional RMA) until the end of his or her time-eligibility period (the first twelve months in the United States). This transitional coverage applies no matter how long the person has been receiving RCA or RMA.

RMA medical services will be provided in the same manner and to the same extent as under Georgia’s Medicaid program.

EPSDT is a comprehensive health program that provides screening and diagnostic services, as well as follow-up treatment if abnormalities are detected. All medical assistance recipients under age twenty-one (21) are eligible to participate in this program.