1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; increasing the medical assistance 
  1.3             income standard for persons who are aged, blind, or 
  1.4             disabled; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.5             256B.056, subdivision 4, and 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 256B.056, 
  1.8   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 4.  [INCOME.] To be eligible for medical 
  1.10  assistance, a person eligible under section 256B.055, 
  1.11  subdivision 7, and families and children may have an income up 
  1.12  to 133-1/3 percent of the AFDC income standard in effect under 
  1.13  the July 16, 1996, AFDC state plan.  For rate years beginning on 
  1.14  or after July 1, 1999, the commissioner shall consider 
  1.15  increasing the base AFDC standard in effect July 16, 1996, by an 
  1.16  amount equal to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index 
  1.17  for all urban consumers for the previous October compared to one 
  1.18  year earlier.  In computing income to determine eligibility of 
  1.19  persons who are not residents of long-term care facilities, the 
  1.20  commissioner shall disregard increases in income as required by 
  1.21  Public Law Numbers 94-566, section 503; 99-272; and 99-509.  
  1.22  Veterans aid and attendance benefits and Veterans Administration 
  1.23  unusual medical expense payments are considered income to the 
  1.24  recipient. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256B.056, is 
  2.1   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.2      Subd. 4c.  [INCOME; AGED, BLIND, OR DISABLED.] To be 
  2.3   eligible for medical assistance, a person eligible under section 
  2.4   256B.055, subdivision 7, may have an income up to 100 percent of 
  2.5   the federal poverty guidelines.  In computing income to 
  2.6   determine eligibility of persons who are not residents of 
  2.7   long-term care facilities, the commissioner shall disregard 
  2.8   increases in income as required by Public Law Numbers 94-566, 
  2.9   section 503; 99-272; and 99-509.  Veterans aid and attendance 
  2.10  benefits and Veterans Administration unusual medical expense 
  2.11  payments are considered income to the recipient.