Pennsylvania Statutes Title 62 P.S. Poor Persons and Public Welfare § 441.9. Verification of eligibility

(a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), income shall be verified prior to authorization of medical assistance or during a redetermination of a recipient's eligibility unless the verification is pending from a third party and the applicant has cooperated in the verification attempt in accordance with department regulations.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the department may authorize medical assistance for pregnant women, children, the elderly or people with disabilities if third-party, automated sources of verification are used to verify income within sixty days of the date of authorization.

(c) Except as prohibited by Federal law, it shall be a condition of eligibility for medical assistance that an applicant or recipient consent to the disclosure of information about the age, residence, citizenship, employment, applications for employment, income and resources of the applicant or recipient which is in the possession of third parties. Consent shall be effective to authorize a third party to release information requested by the department. Except in a case of suspected fraud, the department shall attempt to notify the applicant or recipient prior to contacting a third party for information about the applicant or recipient.