1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health care; expanding medical assistance 
  1.3             eligibility for employed persons with disabilities; 
  1.4             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.5             section 265B.057, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 265B.057, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 9.  [EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.] (a) Medical 
  1.10  assistance may be paid for a person who is employed; who, except 
  1.11  for income or assets, would be eligible for the supplemental 
  1.12  security income program; whose assets do not exceed $20,000, 
  1.13  excluding retirement accounts, medical savings accounts, and all 
  1.14  assets excluded under the supplemental security income program; 
  1.15  and who pays a premium, if required.  Any spousal income or 
  1.16  assets shall be disregarded for purposes of eligibility and 
  1.17  premium determinations. 
  1.18     (b) A person whose earned and unearned income is equal to 
  1.19  or greater than 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines for 
  1.20  the applicable family size must pay a premium to be eligible for 
  1.21  medical assistance.  The premium shall be equal to ten percent 
  1.22  of the person's gross earned and unearned income above 200 
  1.23  percent of federal poverty guidelines for the applicable family 
  1.24  size up to the cost of coverage. 
  1.25     (c) A person's eligibility and premium shall be determined 
  2.1   by the local county agency.  Premiums must be paid to the 
  2.2   commissioner.  All premiums are dedicated to the commissioner. 
  2.3      (d) Any required premium shall be determined at application 
  2.4   and redetermined annually at recertification or when a change in 
  2.5   income occurs. 
  2.6      (e) The first premium payment is due upon notification from 
  2.7   the commissioner of the premium amount required.  Premiums may 
  2.8   be paid in installments at the discretion of the commissioner. 
  2.9      (f) Nonpayment of the premium shall result in denial or 
  2.10  termination of medical assistance unless the person demonstrates 
  2.11  good cause for nonpayment.  Nonpayment shall include payment 
  2.12  with a dishonored instrument.  If payment is made with a 
  2.13  dishonored instrument, the commissioner may demand a guaranteed 
  2.14  form of payment. 
  2.15     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.16     $41,000 in fiscal year 2000 and $170,000 in fiscal year 
  2.17  2001 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
  2.18  of human services, to implement section 1.