HF 738

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/19/2024 04:30pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; allowing home care workers to access MinnesotaCare;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 256L.04, by
adding a subdivision; 256L.15, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256L.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Community first services and supports and personal care assistance
services workforce. new text end

new text begin (a) Individuals and families otherwise ineligible for MinnesotaCare
under subdivision 7a are eligible for MinnesotaCare if an individual in the household provides
services in the following fields with household income equal to or less than 400 percent of
the federal poverty guidelines for the applicable family size:
new text end

new text begin (1) community first services and supports (CFSS), extended CFSS, and enhanced rate
CFSS under section 256B.85; and
new text end

new text begin (2) personal care assistance services under section 256B.0625, subdivisions 19a and
19c; extended personal care assistance services under section 256B.0659, subdivision 1;
and enhanced rate personal care assistance services under section 256B.0659, subdivision
17a.
new text end

new text begin (b) An individual who provides services in the fields listed under paragraph (a) must
work 20 hours per week providing services in that field to qualify for MinnesotaCare under
this subdivision. Once eligible for MinnesotaCare under this subdivision, an individual may
work fewer than 20 hours per week providing services in that field for a maximum of four
weeks within a single redetermination period without losing eligibility.
new text end

new text begin (c) An individual must submit proof of employment providing services in a field listed
in paragraph (a) to the commissioner of human services to establish eligibility for
MinnesotaCare under this subdivision. MinnesotaCare coverage must begin for individuals
eligible under this section one month after submission of proof of employment. A
redetermination of eligibility must occur every six months.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256L.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Sliding fee scale; monthly individual or family income.

(a) The commissioner
shall establish a sliding fee scale to determine the percentage of monthly individual or family
income that households at different income levels must pay to obtain coverage through the
MinnesotaCare program. The sliding fee scale must be based on the enrollee's monthly
individual or family income.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2014, MinnesotaCare enrollees shall pay premiums according
to the premium scale specified in paragraph (d).

(c) Paragraph (b) does not apply to:

(1) children 20 years of age or younger; and

(2) individuals with household incomes below 35 percent of the federal poverty
guidelines.

(d) The following premium scale is established for each individual in the household who
is 21 years of age or older and enrolled in MinnesotaCare:

Federal Poverty Guideline Greater than or Equal to	Less than	Individual Premium Amount
35%	55%	$4
55%	80%	$6
80%	90%	$8
90%	100%	$10
100%	110%	$12
110%	120%	$14
120%	130%	$15
130%	140%	$16
140%	150%	$25
150%	160%	$37
160%	170%	$44
170%	180%	$52
180%	190%	$61
190%	200%	$71
200%		$80

(e) Beginning January 1, 2021, the commissioner shall adjust the premium scale
established under paragraph (d) to ensure that premiums do not exceed the amount that an
individual would have been required to pay if the individual was enrolled in an applicable
benchmark plan in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 600.505
(a)(1).

new text begin (f) Individuals eligible for MinnesotaCare under section 256L.04, subdivision 15, shall
pay an individual premium of $80 per month. Children 20 years of age or younger are
exempt from premiums under this paragraph.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the health care access fund to the
commissioner of human services to provide state-only funded MinnesotaCare coverage to
individuals eligible under Minnesota Statutes, section 256L.04, subdivision 15.
new text end