Bill Text: NH SB259 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expanding eligibility for Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities age 65 and over.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-18 - To Be Inexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, Adjournment 09/25/2019; [SB259 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2019-SB259-Introduced.html
SB 259-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2019 SESSION
19-0870
05/01
SENATE BILL 259-FN
AN ACT expanding eligibility for the Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities (MEAD) program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Morgan, Dist 23; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. Cannon, Straf. 18; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 7
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of health and human services to submit an amendment to the state Medicaid plan to expand coverage under the MEAD program, which provides Medicaid for employed adults, to individuals 65 years of age and older.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19-0870
05/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT expanding eligibility for the Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities (MEAD) program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Department of Health and Human Services; State Plan Amendment; Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities (MEAD) Program.
I. On or before November 1, 2019, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an amendment to the state Medicaid plan pursuant to 442 C.F.R. section 430.12 to allow working persons with disabilities who are age 65 and older to receive medical assistance pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIII) and as permitted under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The state plan amendment shall be used to expand the state's MEAD program, established pursuant to RSA 167:3-i, which is currently limited to individuals between 18 and 64 years of age. Program eligibility under the state plan amendment shall be structured to provide the broadest range of Medicaid coverage consistent with federal eligibility criteria.
II. Upon approval of the state plan amendment under paragraph I, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to implement the expansion of the MEAD program under RSA 167:3-i.
2 MEAD Work Incentive Program. Amend RSA 167:3-i, I to read as follows:
I. Pursuant to [section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XV) of the Social Security Act,] 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XV) and 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIII), the department of health and human services shall establish and administer a work incentive program, known as Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities (MEAD). The purpose of the program shall be to ensure the availability of long-term supports to workers with disabilities who are medically eligible for Medicaid, enabling them to maximize their employment potential and financial independence and prevent impoverishment and dependence upon cash assistance programs.
3 New Paragraph; MEAD Work Incentive Program. Amend RSA 167:3-i by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIII), the department of health and human services shall expand the MEAD program to working individuals with disabilities who are age 65 and older. Individuals age 65 and over whose income does not exceed 250 percent of the federal poverty level shall be eligible for Medicaid under this program.
4 Definitions; MEAD Program. Amend RSA 167:6, IX to read as follows:
IX. For purposes hereof, a person with a disability [between 18 and 64 years of age] who is eligible to participate in the work incentive program, known as Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities (MEAD), shall be eligible for medical assistance as medically needy or categorically needy. The department of health and human services shall establish a sliding fee scale for participants to contribute to the cost of such medical assistance. Participants in the MEAD program shall be employed at the time of enrollment, and may remain enrolled during temporary unemployment for medical reasons or other good cause.
5 Applicability. Sections 2-4 of this act shall take effect on the date that the commissioner of the department of health and human services certifies to the secretary of state and the director of the office of legislative services that the state plan amendment submitted under section 1 has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
I. Sections 2-4 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 5 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
19-0870
1/23/19
SB 259-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT expanding eligibility for the Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities (MEAD) program.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Federal Funds | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to apply for an amendment to the state Medicaid plan to expand the Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities (MEAD) program to individuals age 65 and older and implement the program upon approval. The Department anticipates an indeterminable increase to state expenditures consisting of 50 percent general funds and 50 percent federal funds as a result of supporting an additional eligibility group under the bill. The Department states it does not have information as to how many individuals would potentially qualify for this optional eligibility group. Additionally, the effective date of the bill is contingent upon approval of the amendment to the state Medicaid plan and the Department states it is unable to provide a cost estimate without knowing when the legislation would take effect.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
