CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1785Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianJanuary 08, 2018 An act to add Section 14005.38 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1785, as introduced, Nazarian. Medi-Cal eligibility: assets.Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicants or beneficiarys income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as specified. Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility is determined based on modified adjusted gross income.This bill would exclude the principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan, as defined, from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods, as specified. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to implement the bill only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14005.38 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1785Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianJanuary 08, 2018 An act to add Section 14005.38 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1785, as introduced, Nazarian. Medi-Cal eligibility: assets.Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicants or beneficiarys income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as specified. Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility is determined based on modified adjusted gross income.This bill would exclude the principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan, as defined, from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods, as specified. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to implement the bill only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 1785
Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianJanuary 08, 2018
Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian
January 08, 2018
An act to add Section 14005.38 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1785, as introduced, Nazarian. Medi-Cal eligibility: assets.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicants or beneficiarys income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as specified. Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility is determined based on modified adjusted gross income.This bill would exclude the principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan, as defined, from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods, as specified. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to implement the bill only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicants or beneficiarys income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as specified. Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility is determined based on modified adjusted gross income.
This bill would exclude the principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan, as defined, from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods, as specified. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to implement the bill only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14005.38 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 14005.38 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
SECTION 1. Section 14005.38 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods. (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.
14005.38. (a) The principal and interest of a 529 college savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods.
(b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:
(1) 529 college savings plan means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) MAGI-based financial methods means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.
(c) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.