(a) Application date. If the applicant is found eligible for Medicaid, certification may be made retroactive for any service provided on or after the first day of the third month prior to the month of application and for future months. The first month of the certification period must be the first month that medical service was provided and the recipient was determined eligible.  An applicant approved for long-term medical care under Medicaid as categorically needy is mailed a permanent Medical Identification Card.

(b) Certification period for long-term medical care.  A certification period of 12 months is assigned for an individual categorically related to ABD who is approved for long-term care.  When the individual determined eligible for long-term medical care is categorically related to AFDC, a certification period of 12 months is assigned.