[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR431.18]

[Page 23-24]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
  CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
                 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES--(Continued)
 
PART 431--STATE ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart A--Single State Agency
 
Sec. 431.18  Availability of agency program manuals.

    (a) Basis and purpose. This section, based on section 1902(a)(4) of 
the Act, prescribes State plan requirements for facilitating access to 
Medicaid rules and policies by individuals outside the State Medicaid 
agency.
    (b) State plan requirements. A State plan must provide that the 
Medicaid agency meets the requirements of paragraphs (c) through (g) of 
this section.
    (c) Availability in agency offices. (1) The agency must maintain, in 
all its offices, copies of its current rules and policies that affect 
the public, including those that govern eligibility, provision of 
medical assistance, covered services, and recipient rights and 
responsibilities.
    (2) These documents must be available upon request for review, 
study, and reproduction by individuals during regular working hours of 
the agency.
    (d) Availability through other entities. The agency must provide 
copies of its current rules and policies to--
    (1) Public and university libraries;
    (2) The local or district offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
    (3) Welfare and legal services offices; and
    (4) Other entities that--
    (i) Request the material in order to make it accessible to the 
public;

[[Page 24]]

    (ii) Are centrally located and accessible to a substantial number of 
the recipient population they serve; and
    (iii) Agree to accept responsibility for filing all amendments or 
changes forwarded by the agency.
    (e) Availability in relation to fair hearings. The agency must make 
available to an applicant or recipient, or his representative, a copy of 
the specific policy materials necessary--
    (1) To determine whether to request a fair hearing; or
    (2) To prepare for a fair hearing.
    (f) Availability for other purposes. The agency must establish rules 
for making program policy materials available to individuals who request 
them for other purposes.
    (g) Charges for reproduction. The agency must make copies of its 
program policy materials available without charge or at a charge related 
to the cost of reproduction.

[44 FR 17931, Mar. 23, 1979]