SF 850

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/15/2017 10:14am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying certain provisions governing medical
assistance for employed persons with disabilities asset limits; seeking federal
waiver authority; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256B.057, subdivision
9.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, 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) but for excess earnings or assets, meets the definition of disabled under the
Supplemental Security Income program;

(2) meets the asset limits in paragraph (d); and

(3) pays a premium and other obligations under paragraph (e).

(b) For purposes of eligibility, there is a $65 earned income disregard. To be eligible
for medical assistance under this subdivision, a person must have more than $65 of earned
income. new text begin To adjust for income fluctuations, earned income is the person's income averaged
over the previous six months. new text end Earned income must have Medicare, Social Security, and
applicable state and federal taxes withheld. The person must document earned income tax
withholding. Any spousal income or assets shall be disregarded for purposes of eligibility
and premium determinations.

(c) 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; or

(2) loses employment for reasons not attributable to the enrollee, and is without receipt
of earned income 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.

(d) 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;

(3) medical expense accounts set up through the person's employer; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(4) spousal assets, including spouse's share of jointly held assets deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (5) personally owned business assets.
new text end

(e) All enrollees must pay a premium to be eligible for medical assistance under this
subdivision, except as provided under clause (5).

(1) An enrollee must pay the greater of a $35 premium or the premium calculated 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.

(2) 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.

(3) All enrollees who receive unearned income must pay one-half of one percent of
unearned income in addition to the premium amount, except as provided under clause (5).

(4) 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.

(5) Effective July 1, 2009, American Indians are exempt from paying premiums as
required by section 5006 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public
Law 111-5. For purposes of this clause, an American Indian is any person who meets the
definition of Indian according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 447.50.

(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.

(j) For enrollees whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty
guidelines and who are also enrolled in Medicare, the commissioner shall reimburse the
enrollee for Medicare part B premiums under section 256B.0625, subdivision 15, paragraph
(a).

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon federal approval. The commissioner
of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval is obtained.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin FEDERAL AUTHORITY REQUEST.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall seek all necessary federal authority to
implement section 1.
new text end