Report Title:

Medicaid; Cost Share Program

Description:

Statutorily requires the Medicaid spend-down level to be equal to the current federal poverty level. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2140

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to medicaid.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346-   QUEST-spenddown program; eligibility. In determining eligibility due to excess income for the QUEST-spenddown program, the department shall apply a medically needy standard that is equal to the current federal poverty level for a family of the same size."

SECTION 2. Section 346-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (16) to read as follows:

"(16) Subject to the appropriation of state funds and availability of federal matching assistance, establish the income eligibility level for the medically needy program at one hundred thirty-three per cent of the assistance allowance. In determining eligibility under this section, the department shall disregard an amount of income equal to the difference between one hundred thirty-three per cent of the assistance allowance and one hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as adjusted annually by the federal government, for a family of the size applying for assistance."

SECTION 3. The department of human services shall not take any action to remove pharmaceutical benefits management from managed care plans that provide health care coverage for Hawaii medicaid beneficiaries."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the QUEST-spenddown program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.