Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0798 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0798
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7	7	LC000917
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES – MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
16	16	Introduced By: Senators Cano, Miller, DiPalma, Lawson, DiMario, Acosta, Zurier,
17	17	Quezada, Murray, and Lauria
18	18	Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
19	19	Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby 1
24	24	amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
25	25	40-8-3.2. Eligibility for Medicare savings programs. 3
26	26	(a) Beginning July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the secretary of the executive office of 4
27	27	health and human services shall increase income disregards used to determine eligibility by the 5
28	28	department of human services for the federal Medicare Savings Programs administered in 6
29	29	accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 1396d(p) as follows: 7
30	30	(1) For the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program by an amount that equalizes the 8
31	31	income level at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level; 9
32	32	(2) For the Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary Program by an amount that 10
33	33	equalizes the income level at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level; 11
34	34	and 12
35	35	(3) For the Qualifying Individual Program by an amount that equalizes the income level at 13
36	36	or below two-hundred and twenty-five percent (225%) of the federal poverty level. 14
37	37	(b) The secretary shall not apply an asset test for eligibility under the Medicare savings 15
38	38	programs. 16
39	39	(c) The secretary shall submit any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver necessary to 17
40	40	implement the provisions of this section. 18
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43	43	LC000917 - Page 2 of 3
44	44	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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46	46	LC000917
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50	50	LC000917 - Page 3 of 3
51	51	EXPLANATION
52	52	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
53	53	OF
54	54	A N A C T
55	55	RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES – MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
56	56	***
57	57	This act would increase eligibility for the three (3) federal Medicare Savings Programs as 1
58	58	follows: (1) Increase to one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level for the 2
59	59	Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program that pays for a person’s Medicare Part B premium and 3
60	60	additional cost-sharing in Parts A and B; (2) Increase to two hundred percent (200%) of the federal 4
61	61	poverty level for the Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary Program that pays for a person’s 5
62	62	Part B premium; and (3) Increase to two hundred twenty-five percent (225%) of the federal poverty 6
63	63	level for the restricted Qualifying Individual Program that pays for a person’s Part B premium. The 7
64	64	act would also eliminate the asset test for these programs. 8
65	65	This act would take effect upon passage. 9
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67	67	LC000917
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