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HF 3252

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/01/2010 09:33am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying certain medical assistance asset limits;
requiring notice regarding asset requirements in certain circumstances; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 256B.056, subdivisions 1a, 3; 256B.057,
subdivision 9.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.056, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:


Subd. 1a.

Income and assets generally.

Unless specifically required by state law or
rule or federal law or regulation, the methodologies used in counting income and assets
to determine eligibility for medical assistance for persons whose eligibility category is
based on blindness, disability, or age of 65 or more years, the methodologies for the
supplemental security income program shall be usednew text begin , except as provided under subdivision
3, clause (6)
new text end . Increases in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act shall not be
counted as income for purposes of this subdivision until July 1 of each year. Effective
upon federal approval, for children eligible under section 256B.055, subdivision 12, or
for home and community-based waiver services whose eligibility for medical assistance
is determined without regard to parental income, child support payments, including any
payments made by an obligor in satisfaction of or in addition to a temporary or permanent
order for child support, and Social Security payments are not counted as income. For
families and children, which includes all other eligibility categories, the methodologies
under the state's AFDC plan in effect as of July 16, 1996, as required by the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Public
Law 104-193, shall be used, except that effective October 1, 2003, the earned income
disregards and deductions are limited to those in subdivision 1c. For these purposes, a
"methodology" does not include an asset or income standard, or accounting method,
or method of determining effective dates.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.056, subdivision 3, is amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Asset limitations for individuals and families.

To be eligible for medical
assistance, a person must not individually own more than $3,000 in assets, or if a member
of a household with two family members, husband and wife, or parent and child, the
household must not own more than $6,000 in assets, plus $200 for each additional legal
dependent. In addition to these maximum amounts, an eligible individual or family may
accrue interest on these amounts, but they must be reduced to the maximum at the time
of an eligibility redetermination. The accumulation of the clothing and personal needs
allowance according to section 256B.35 must also be reduced to the maximum at the
time of the eligibility redetermination. The value of assets that are not considered in
determining eligibility for medical assistance is the value of those assets excluded under
the supplemental security income program for aged, blind, and disabled persons, with
the following exceptions:

(1) household goods and personal effects are not considered;

(2) capital and operating assets of a trade or business that the local agency determines
are necessary to the person's ability to earn an income are not considered;

(3) motor vehicles are excluded to the same extent excluded by the supplemental
security income program;

(4) assets designated as burial expenses are excluded to the same extent excluded by
the supplemental security income program. Burial expenses funded by annuity contracts
or life insurance policies must irrevocably designate the individual's estate as contingent
beneficiary to the extent proceeds are not used for payment of selected burial expenses; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(5) effective upon federal approval, for a person who no longer qualifies as an
employed person with a disability due to loss of earnings, assets allowed while eligible
for medical assistance under section 256B.057, subdivision 9, are not considered for 12
months, beginning with the first month of ineligibility as an employed person with a
disability, to the extent that the person's total assets remain within the allowed limits of
section 256B.057, subdivision 9, paragraph (c)deleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (6) when a person enrolled in medical assistance under section 256B.057,
subdivision 9, reaches age 65 and has been enrolled during each of the 24 consecutive
months before the person's 65th birthday, the assets owned by the person and the person's
spouse must be disregarded, up to the limits of section 256B.057, subdivision 9, paragraph
(c), when determining eligibility for medical assistance under section 256B.055,
subdivision 7. The income of a spouse of a person enrolled in medical assistance under
section 256B.057, subdivision 9, during each of the 24 consecutive months before the
person's 65th birthday must be disregarded when determining eligibility for medical
assistance under section 256B.055, subdivision 7, when the person reaches age 65.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.057, subdivision 9, is amended to read:


Subd. 9.

Employed persons with disabilities.

(a) Medical assistance may be paid
for a person who is employed and who:

(1) meets the definition of disabled under the supplemental security income program;

(2) is at least 16 but less than 65 years of age;

(3) meets the asset limits in paragraph (c); and

(4) effective November 1, 2003, pays a premium and other obligations under
paragraph (e).

Any spousal income or assets shall be disregarded for purposes of eligibility and premium
determinations.

(b) After the month of enrollment, a person enrolled in medical assistance under
this subdivision who:

(1) is temporarily unable to work and without receipt of earned income due to a
medical condition, as verified by a physician, may retain eligibility for up to four calendar
months; or

(2) effective January 1, 2004, loses employment for reasons not attributable to the
enrollee, may retain eligibility for up to four consecutive months after the month of job
loss. To receive a four-month extension, enrollees must verify the medical condition or
provide notification of job loss. All other eligibility requirements must be met and the
enrollee must pay all calculated premium costs for continued eligibility.

(c) For purposes of determining eligibility under this subdivision, a person's assets
must not exceed $20,000, excluding:

(1) all assets excluded under section 256B.056;

(2) retirement accounts, including individual accounts, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans,
Keogh plans, and pension plans; and

(3) medical expense accounts set up through the person's employer.

(d)(1) Effective January 1, 2004, for purposes of eligibility, there will be a $65
earned income disregard. To be eligible, a person applying for medical assistance under
this subdivision must have earned income above the disregard level.

(2) Effective January 1, 2004, to be considered earned income, Medicare, Social
Security, and applicable state and federal income taxes must be withheld. To be eligible,
a person must document earned income tax withholding.

(e)(1) A person whose earned and unearned income is equal to or greater than 100
percent of federal poverty guidelines for the applicable family size must pay a premium
to be eligible for medical assistance under this subdivision. The premium shall be based
on the person's gross earned and unearned income and the applicable family size using a
sliding fee scale established by the commissioner, which begins at one percent of income
at 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and increases to 7.5 percent of income
for those with incomes at or above 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Annual
adjustments in the premium schedule based upon changes in the federal poverty guidelines
shall be effective for premiums due in July of each year.

(2) Effective January 1, 2004, all enrollees must pay a premium to be eligible for
medical assistance under this subdivision. An enrollee shall pay the greater of a $35
premium or the premium calculated in clause (1).

(3) Effective November 1, 2003, all enrollees who receive unearned income must
pay one-half of one percent of unearned income in addition to the premium amount.

(4) Effective November 1, 2003, for enrollees whose income does not exceed 200
percent of the federal poverty guidelines and who are also enrolled in Medicare, the
commissioner must reimburse the enrollee for Medicare Part B premiums under section
256B.0625, subdivision 15, paragraph (a).

(5) Increases in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act shall not be counted
as income for purposes of this subdivision until July 1 of each year.

(f) A person's eligibility and premium shall be determined by the local county
agency. Premiums must be paid to the commissioner. All premiums are dedicated to
the commissioner.

(g) Any required premium shall be determined at application and redetermined at
the enrollee's six-month income review or when a change in income or household size is
reported. Enrollees must report any change in income or household size within ten days
of when the change occurs. A decreased premium resulting from a reported change in
income or household size shall be effective the first day of the next available billing month
after the change is reported. Except for changes occurring from annual cost-of-living
increases, a change resulting in an increased premium shall not affect the premium amount
until the next six-month review.

(h) Premium payment is due upon notification from the commissioner of the
premium amount required. Premiums may be paid in installments at the discretion of
the commissioner.

(i) Nonpayment of the premium shall result in denial or termination of medical
assistance unless the person demonstrates good cause for nonpayment. Good cause exists
if the requirements specified in Minnesota Rules, part 9506.0040, subpart 7, items B to
D, are met. Except when an installment agreement is accepted by the commissioner,
all persons disenrolled for nonpayment of a premium must pay any past due premiums
as well as current premiums due prior to being reenrolled. Nonpayment shall include
payment with a returned, refused, or dishonored instrument. The commissioner may
require a guaranteed form of payment as the only means to replace a returned, refused,
or dishonored instrument.

new text begin (j) Effective July 1, 2010, the commissioner shall notify enrollees at each six-month
review beginning at least 24 months before the person's 65th birthday of the medical
assistance eligibility rules affecting income, assets, and treatment of a spouse's income
and assets that will be applied upon reaching age 65.
new text end