S0425

	2019 -- S 0425
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	LC000796
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

	Introduced By: Senator Erin Lynch Prata
	Date Introduced: February 27, 2019
	Referred To: Senate 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.
4	(a) Beginning July 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the secretary of the executive office
5	of health and human services shall increase income disregards used to determine eligibility by the
6	department of human services for the federal Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, the Specified Low-
7	Income Medicare Beneficiary and the Qualifying Individual Programs, administered in
8	accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 1396d(p), by an amount that equalizes the income
9	levels used to determine eligibility for said programs to income levels at or below one hundred
10	eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal 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.
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	LC000796
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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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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 Medicare cost-sharing
3	programs, by an amount that equalizes the income levels to one hundred eighty-five percent
4	(185%) of the federal poverty level.
5	This act would take effect upon passage.
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	LC000796
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