SB218: relative to public assistance for certain persons.

SB 218-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2017 SESSION

17-0941

01/05

SENATE BILL 218-FN

AN ACT relative to public assistance for certain persons.

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Rep. J. MacKay, Merr. 14; Rep. Weber, Ches. 1; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 7

COMMITTEE: Finance

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the definition regarding public assistance for persons with a disability who are eligible to participate in the work incentive program.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0941

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to public assistance for certain persons.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Public Assistance to the Disabled; Definitions. 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 or a person who is 65 years of age whose full retirement is 66 who [is] are 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.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO 17-0941

1/26/17

SB 218-FN- FISCAL NOTE

as introduced

AN ACT relative to public assistance for certain persons.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

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 [ ] Other

METHODOLOGY:

This bill expands the eligibility to participate in the work incentive program, known as Medicaid for employed adults with disabilities, to individuals age 65 whose full retirement is 66. The Department of Health and Human Services states it does not know how many individuals with a full retirement age of 66 would apply for the program in FY 2018 and therefore cannot provide estimates. However, in FY 2016, 35 individuals who were eligible for the program became ineligible due to turning 65. Of these 35 individuals, 29 were either eligible for Old Age Assistance or eligible with a deductible and one case was pending a decision. Five were denied assistance due to being over income for the program. The Department states there would be one-time costs associated with system changes as well as staff and resources toward amending and submitting the state plan to receive the federal match funds. The Department notes it is unlikely the proposed legislation would be eligible for the 50 percent federal match thereby requiring Medicaid services for program participants age 65 and over to be paid with 100 percent general funds.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services