Sec. 9. (a) If the state does not enter into a contract with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Medicaid program, a recipient must make an application for Medicaid to the county office of the county or district in which the recipient resides.
(b) The application must be in the manner required by the office.
(c) However, an applicant who:
(1) was receiving assistance before January 1, 1974; and
(2) has been certified as eligible for Medicaid;
is not required to make an application while the recipient continues to remain eligible under state laws.