2015 -- H 5201

========

LC000603

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Bennett, McNamara, Handy, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby

2

amended by adding thereto the following section:

3

     40-8-3.2. Eligibility for Medicare savings programs. -- (a) Beginning July 1, 2015, and

4

annually thereafter, the secretary of the executive office of health and human services shall

5

increase income disregards used to determine eligibility by the department of human services for

6

the federal Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and

7

the Qualifying Individual Programs, administered in accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C.

8

1396d(p), by an amount that equalizes the income levels used to determine eligibility for said

9

programs to income levels at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal

10

poverty level.

11

     (b) The secretary shall not apply an asset test for eligibility under the Medicare savings

12

program.

13

     (c) The secretary shall submit any Medicaid state plan amendment necessary to

14

implement the provisions of this section.

15

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000603

========

 

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

***

1

     This act would require the secretary of the executive office of health and human services

2

to increase income disregards to determine eligibility for certain Medicaid cost-sharing programs

3

by an amount that equalizes the income levels to one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the

4

federal poverty level.

5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000603

========

 

LC000603 - Page 2 of 2