2018 -- S 2524

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LC005160

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HOME COMMUNITY CARE

SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Goodwin, Lynch Prata, DiPalma, and Seveney

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-66.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-66.3 entitled "Home

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and Community Care Services to the Elderly" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-66.3-4. Persons eligible.

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     (a) To be eligible for this program the client must be determined, through a functional

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assessment, to be in need of assistance with activities of daily living or and/or must meet a

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required level of care as defined in rules and regulations promulgated by the department;

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     (b) Medicaid eligible individuals age sixty-five (65) or older of the state who meet the

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financial guidelines of the Rhode Island medical assistance program, as defined in rules and

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regulations promulgated by the department, shall be provided the services without charge; or

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     (c) Persons eligible for assistance under the provisions of this section, subject to the

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annual appropriations deemed necessary by the general assembly to carry out the provisions of

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this chapter, include: (1) any homebound unmarried resident or homebound married resident of

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the state living separate and apart, who is ineligible for Medicaid, at least sixty-five (65) years of

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age or, if under sixty-five (65) years of age, have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related

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dementia confirmed by a licensed physician;, ineligible for Medicaid, and whose income does not

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exceed the income eligibility limits as defined by rules and regulations promulgated by the

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department two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level, and (2) any married

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resident of the state who is ineligible for Medicaid, at least sixty-five (65) years of age, ineligible

 

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for Medicaid, or, if under sixty-five (65) years of age, have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or

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a related dementia confirmed by a licensed physician; and whose income when combined with

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any income of that person's spouse does not exceed two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the

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federal poverty level the income eligibility limits as defined in rules and regulations promulgated

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by the department. Persons who meet the eligibility requirement of this subsection shall be

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eligible for and subject to the co-payment portion as set forth in ยง 42-66.3-5.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HOME COMMUNITY CARE

SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY

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     This act would expand the number of persons eligible for assistance for elderly services

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to include those persons under the age of sixty-five (65) suffering from Alzheimer's disease or a

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related dementia confirmed by a licensed physician with income not exceeding two hundred fifty

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percent (250%) of the federal poverty level.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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