Bill Text: CT SB00279 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Waiving Asset Limits For Working Persons With Disabilities To Receive Medical Assistance.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-11 - Referred by Senate to Committee on Appropriations [SB00279 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00279-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Substitute Bill No. 279
February Session, 2016		*_____SB00279HS____031616____*

AN ACT WAIVING ASSET LIMITS FOR WORKING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 17b-597 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall amend the Medicaid state plan to allow persons specified in subsection (a) of this section to qualify for medical assistance. The amendment shall include the following requirements: (1) That the person be engaged in a substantial and reasonable work effort as determined by the commissioner and as permitted by federal law and have an annual adjusted gross income, as defined in Section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, of no more than seventy-five thousand dollars per year; (2) a disregard of all countable income up to two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level; (3) [for an unmarried person, an asset limit of ten thousand dollars, and for a married couple, an asset limit of fifteen thousand dollars; (4)] a disregard of any retirement and medical savings accounts established pursuant to 26 USC 220 and held by either the person or the person's spouse; [(5)] (4) a disregard of any moneys in accounts designated by the person or the person's spouse for the purpose of purchasing goods or services that will increase the employability of such person, subject to approval by the commissioner; [(6)] (5) a disregard of spousal income solely for purposes of determination of eligibility; and [(7)] (6) a contribution of any countable income of the person or the person's spouse which exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as adjusted for the appropriate family size, equal to ten per cent of the excess minus any premiums paid from income for health insurance by any family member, but which does not exceed the maximum contribution allowable under Section 201(a)(3) of Public Law 106-170, as amended from time to time.

Sec. 2. Section 17b-598 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Commissioner of Social Services shall seek a waiver from federal law to permit a person participating in the program established under section 17b-597, as amended by this act, to remain eligible for medical assistance under the Medicaid program in the event such person is unable to maintain a work effort for involuntary reasons. No such person shall be required to make another application to determine continued eligibility for medical assistance under the Medicaid program. In order to remain eligible for such medical assistance, such person shall (1) request that such assistance be continued for a period not to exceed twelve months from the date of the involuntary loss of employment, and (2) maintain a connection to the workforce as determined by the commissioner during such period. At the end of the twelve-month period, such person shall meet the eligibility criteria for the Medicaid program. [, except that the commissioner shall disregard any assets specified in subdivisions (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of section 17b-597.]

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2016	17b-597(b)
Sec. 2	July 1, 2016	17b-598

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

In Section 2, ", as amended by this act," was inserted after "17b-597 for accuracy.

HS

Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO