Bill Text: MO HB1405 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Changes the eligibility requirements for medical assistance under the MO HealthNet program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-28 - Referred: Government Oversight and Accountability(H) [HB1405 Detail]

Download: Missouri-2014-HB1405-Introduced.html

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1405

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 

 

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ELLINGTON (Sponsor) AND BUTLER (Co-sponsor).

4520L.01I                                                                                                                                                  D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

AN ACT

To repeal sections 208.990 and 208.991, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the MO HealthNet program.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Sections 208.990 and 208.991, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 208.990 and 208.991, to read as follows:

            208.990. 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, to be eligible for MO HealthNet coverage individuals shall meet the eligibility criteria set forth in 42 CFR 435, including but not limited to the requirements that:

            (1) The individual is a resident of the state of Missouri;

            (2) The individual has a valid Social Security number;

            (3) The individual is a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien as described in Section 431 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 8 U.S.C. Section 1641, who has provided satisfactory documentary evidence of qualified alien status which has been verified with the Department of Homeland Security under a declaration required by Section 1137(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that the applicant or beneficiary is an alien in a satisfactory immigration status; and

            (4) An individual claiming eligibility as a pregnant woman shall verify pregnancy.

            2. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, effective January 1, 2014, the family support division shall conduct an annual redetermination of all MO HealthNet participants' eligibility as provided in 42 CFR 435.916. The department may contract with an administrative service organization to conduct the annual redeterminations if it is cost effective.             3. The department, or family support division, shall conduct electronic searches to redetermine eligibility on the basis of income, residency, citizenship, identity and other criteria as described in 42 CFR 435.916 upon availability of federal, state, and commercially available electronic data sources. The department, or family support division, may enter into a contract with a vendor to perform the electronic search of eligibility information not disclosed during the application process and obtain an applicable case management system. The department shall retain final authority over eligibility determinations made during the redetermination process.             4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, applications for MO HealthNet benefits shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements of 42 CFR 435.907 and other applicable federal law. The individual shall provide all required information and documentation necessary to make an eligibility determination, resolve discrepancies found during the redetermination process, or for a purpose directly connected to the administration of the medical assistance program.

            5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, to be eligible for MO HealthNet coverage under section 208.991, individuals shall meet the eligibility requirements set forth in subsection 1 of this section and all other eligibility criteria set forth in 42 CFR 435 and 457, including, but not limited to, the requirements that:

            (1) The department of social services shall determine the individual's financial eligibility based on projected annual household income and family size for the remainder of the current calendar year;

            (2) The department of social services shall determine household income for the purpose of determining the modified adjusted gross income by including all available cash support provided by the person claiming such individual as a dependent for tax purposes;

            (3) The department of social services shall determine a pregnant woman's household size by counting the pregnant woman plus the number of children she is expected to deliver;

            (4) CHIP-eligible children shall be uninsured, shall not have access to affordable insurance, and their parent shall pay the required premium;

            (5) An individual claiming eligibility as an uninsured woman shall be uninsured.

            6. The MO HealthNet program shall not provide MO HealthNet coverage under subsections 4 and 5 of section 208.991 to a parent or other caretaker relative living with a dependent child unless the child is receiving benefits under the MO HealthNet program, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under 42 CFR Chapter IV, Subchapter D, or otherwise is enrolled in minimum essential coverage as defined in 42 CFR Section 435.4.

            208.991. 1. For purposes of this section and section 208.990, the following terms mean:

            (1) "Caretaker relative", a relative of a dependent child by blood, adoption, or marriage with whom the child is living, who assumes primary responsibility for the child's care, which may, but is not required to, be indicated by claiming the child as a tax dependent for federal income tax purposes, and who is one of the following:

            (a) The child's father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, or niece;

            (b) The spouse of such parent or relative, even after the marriage is terminated by death or divorce;

            (2) "Child" or "children", a person or persons who are under nineteen years of age;

            [(2)] (3) "CHIP-eligible children", children who meet the eligibility standards for Missouri's children's health insurance program as provided in sections 208.631 to 208.658, including paying the premiums required under sections 208.631 to 208.658;

            [(3)] (4) "Department", the Missouri department of social services, or a division or unit within the department as designated by the department's director;

            [(4)] (5) "MAGI", the individual's modified adjusted gross income as defined in Section 36B(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and:

            (a) Any foreign earned income or housing costs;

            (b) Tax-exempt interest received or accrued by the individual; and

            (c) Tax-exempt Social Security income;

            [(5)] (6) "MAGI equivalent net income standard", an income eligibility threshold based on modified adjusted gross income that is not less than the income eligibility levels that were in effect prior to the enactment of Public Law 111-148 and Public Law 111-152;

            (7) "Medically frail", individuals with:

            (a) Serious emotional disturbances;

            (b) Disabling mental disorders;

            (c) Substance use disorders who are at high risk for significant medical and social costs;

            (d) Serious and complex medical conditions; and

            (e) Physical or mental disabilities that significantly impair their ability to perform one or more activities of daily living.

            2. (1) Effective January 1, 2014, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the following individuals shall be eligible for MO HealthNet coverage as provided in this section:

            (a) Individuals covered by MO HealthNet for families as provided in section 208.145;

            (b) Individuals covered by transitional MO HealthNet as provided in 42 U.S.C. Section 1396r-6;

            (c) Individuals covered by extended MO HealthNet for families on child support closings as provided in 42 U.S.C. Section 1396r-6;

            (d) Pregnant women as provided in subdivisions (10), (11), and (12) of subsection 1 of section 208.151;

            (e) Children under one year of age as provided in subdivision (12) of subsection 1 of section 208.151;

            (f) Children under six years of age as provided in subdivision (13) of subsection 1 of section 208.151;

            (g) Children under nineteen years of age as provided in subdivision (14) of subsection 1 of section 208.151;

            (h) CHIP-eligible children; and

            (i) Uninsured women as provided in section 208.659.

            (2) Effective January 1, 2014, the department shall determine eligibility for individuals eligible for MO HealthNet under subdivision (1) of this subsection based on the following income eligibility standards, unless and until they are changed:

            (a) For individuals listed in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall apply the July 16, 1996, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) income standard as converted to the MAGI equivalent net income standard;

            (b) For individuals listed in paragraphs (f) and (g) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall apply one hundred thirty-three percent of the federal poverty level converted to the MAGI equivalent net income standard;

            (c) For individuals listed in paragraph (h) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall convert the income eligibility standard set forth in section 208.633 to the MAGI equivalent net income standard;

            (d) For individuals listed in paragraphs (d), (e), and (i) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall apply one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty level converted to the MAGI equivalent net income standard.

            (3) Individuals eligible for MO HealthNet under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall receive all applicable benefits under section 208.152.

            3. Effective January 1, 2015, individuals who meet the following qualifications shall be eligible for the alternative package of MO HealthNet benefits as set forth in subsection 4 of this section, subject to the other requirements of this section:

            (1) Are age nineteen or older and under age sixty-five;

            (2) Are not pregnant;

            (3) Are not entitled to or enrolled for Medicare benefits under Part A or B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act;

            (4) Are not otherwise eligible for and enrolled for mandatory coverage under Missouri's MO HealthNet program in accordance with 42 CFR Part 435, Subpart B; and

            (5) Have household income that is at or below one hundred percent of the federal poverty level for the applicable family size for the applicable year.

            4. Except for those individuals who meet the definition of medically frail, the individuals eligible for MO HealthNet benefits in subsection 3 of this section shall only receive a package of alternative minimum benefits. The MO HealthNet division of the department of social services shall promulgate regulations to be effective January 1, 2014, that provide an alternative benefit package that complies with the requirements of federal law and subject to limitations as established in regulations of the MO HealthNet division.

            5. Individuals eligible for coverage under subsection 3 of this section who meet the definition of medically frail shall receive all coverage they are eligible to receive under section 208.151.

            6. The department of social services shall establish a screening process in conjunction with the department of mental health and department of health and senior services for determining whether an individual is medically frail.

            7. The department shall provide premium subsidy and other cost supports for individuals eligible for medical assistance under subsection 3 of this section to enroll in employer-provided health plans based on cost effective principles determined by the department.

            8. The department or appropriate divisions of the department shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as the term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2013, shall be invalid and void.

            [4.] 9. The department shall submit such state plan amendments and waivers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the federal Department of Health and Human Services as the department determines are necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

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