1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; extending medical 
  1.3             assistance eligibility temporarily; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 2000, section 256B.057, subdivision 9. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 256B.057, 
  1.7   subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subd. 9.  [EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.] (a) Medical 
  1.9   assistance may be paid for a person who is employed and who: 
  1.10     (1) meets the definition of disabled under the supplemental 
  1.11  security income program; 
  1.12     (2) is at least 16 but less than 65 years of age; 
  1.13     (3) meets the asset limits in paragraph (b); and 
  1.14     (4) pays a premium, if required, under paragraph (c).  
  1.15  Any spousal income or assets shall be disregarded for purposes 
  1.16  of eligibility and premium determinations. 
  1.17     After the month of enrollment, a person enrolled in medical 
  1.18  assistance under this subdivision who is temporarily unable to 
  1.19  work and without receipt of earned income due to a medical 
  1.20  condition, as verified by a physician, may retain eligibility 
  1.21  for up to four calendar months. 
  1.22     (b) For purposes of determining eligibility under this 
  1.23  subdivision, a person's assets must not exceed $20,000, 
  1.24  excluding: 
  1.25     (1) all assets excluded under section 256B.056; 
  2.1      (2) retirement accounts, including individual accounts, 
  2.2   401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, Keogh plans, and pension plans; and 
  2.3      (3) medical expense accounts set up through the person's 
  2.4   employer. 
  2.5      (c) A person whose earned and unearned income is greater 
  2.6   than 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines for the 
  2.7   applicable family size must pay a premium to be eligible for 
  2.8   medical assistance.  The premium shall be equal to ten percent 
  2.9   of the person's gross earned and unearned income above 200 
  2.10  percent of federal poverty guidelines for the applicable family 
  2.11  size up to the cost of coverage. 
  2.12     (d) A person's eligibility and premium shall be determined 
  2.13  by the local county agency.  Premiums must be paid to the 
  2.14  commissioner.  All premiums are dedicated to the commissioner. 
  2.15     (e) Any required premium shall be determined at application 
  2.16  and redetermined annually at recertification or when a change in 
  2.17  income or family size occurs. 
  2.18     (f) Premium payment is due upon notification from the 
  2.19  commissioner of the premium amount required.  Premiums may be 
  2.20  paid in installments at the discretion of the commissioner. 
  2.21     (g) Nonpayment of the premium shall result in denial or 
  2.22  termination of medical assistance unless the person demonstrates 
  2.23  good cause for nonpayment.  Good cause exists if the 
  2.24  requirements specified in Minnesota Rules, part 9506.0040, 
  2.25  subpart 7, items B to D, are met.  Nonpayment shall include 
  2.26  payment with a returned, refused, or dishonored instrument.  The 
  2.27  commissioner may require a guaranteed form of payment as the 
  2.28  only means to replace a returned, refused, or dishonored 
  2.29  instrument.