Connecticut House Bill HB05510

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/19
• Refer: 1/17/19

Caption

An Act Requiring Retroactive Medicaid Payments For Eligible Home Care Services.

Impact

If enacted, HB 5510 could result in significant implications for state law regarding Medicaid provisions and home care services. The bill seeks to facilitate state savings on institutional care by increasing the willingness of eligible applicants to seek home care services, potentially reducing the overall need for more expensive institutional care. By enabling retroactive payments, the bill aims to provide financial support to individuals receiving home care, which could lead to better healthcare outcomes and greater accessibility to necessary services.

Summary

House Bill 5510 is aimed at amending section 17b-342 of the general statutes to mandate retroactive Medicaid payments for eligible home care services. This bill proposes that Medicaid applicants who are receiving home care services should receive payments retroactively, as long as they have not engaged in transferring assets for less than fair market value within the sixty months prior to their application. The intent of this bill is to ensure that those in need of home care services are not disadvantaged by the complexities of Medicaid eligibility requirements.

Contention

While the bill promotes beneficial changes to Medicaid payment policies, it could also stir debate among stakeholders. Notable points of contention may revolve around the criteria for eligibility and the impact on state budgets. Some may argue that the retroactive payment feature could create fiscal challenges for Medicaid funding, while others may counter that the long-term savings from reducing institutional care costs ultimately justify the upfront expenditures. The adequacy of current fiscal resources for Medicaid could also be scrutinized as the bill is discussed and debated in legislative sessions.