Where are you reading that specialists are allowed at Nationals?I just read the updates, and it's a 9.5 at regionals to go to nationals for level 9 as event specialists. Level 10 is a 9.3 for a specialist. "Specialist category at Level 9 Regionals is allowed. The gymnast must declare as a specialist by state meet entry and can not compete in four events at state meet. Qualifying to Regionals requires a 9.50 achieved at state meet. Refer to individual state meet guidelines for state specialist qualifying scores. No petitions allowed. Entry fees for Regional competition remain the same as fees for all around gymnasts."
You are probably right about the qualifying score being from the previous year's state or regional meet.
http://gausag.org/documents/Region8RulesandRegulations2016.pdf