2017 -- H 5378

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LC000923

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Tanzi, Shanley, Barros, and Carson

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     40-8-3.2. Eligibility for Medicare savings programs.

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     (a) Beginning July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the secretary of the executive office

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of health and human services shall increase income disregards used to determine eligibility by the

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department of human services for the federal Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, the Specified Low-

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Income Medicare Beneficiary and the Qualifying Individual Programs, administered in

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accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 1396d(p), by an amount that equalizes the income

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levels used to determine eligibility for said programs to income levels at or below one hundred

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eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level.

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

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program.

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

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implement the provisions of this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

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

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to increase income disregards, to determine eligibility for certain Medicare cost-sharing

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programs, by an amount that equalizes the income levels to one hundred eighty-five percent

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(185%) of the federal poverty level.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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