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:

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

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

     42-66.3-4. Persons eligible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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

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

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

percent (250%) of the federal poverty level.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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