HCS HB 827 -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES

SPONSOR:  Phillips (Portwood)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Senior
Citizen Advocacy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute requires the Department of Social Services to
determine the eligibility of an employed disabled person
requesting medical assistance under the federal Ticket to Work
and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.  The substitute:

(1)  Requires an applicant to work at least 40 hours per month,
have a gross annual income of less than $18,000, and pay a
one-time $65 application fee;

(2)  Specifies that an individual's personal assets cannot exceed
$1,000, while a couple's assets cannot exceed $2,000;

(3)  Specifies that an independent living development account
with a value less than $10,000 per year, a medical expense
account with a value less than $5,000 per year, and a combined
spousal income up to $32,500 per year will not be considered
assets for determining eligibility;

(4)  Specifies that an individual whose income is greater than
80% of the federal poverty guidelines will have to pay a premium
between $100 and $400 based on their previous month's income;

(5)  Specifies that any person's income exceeding the limit for
permanent and total disability benefits in Section 208.151, RSMo,
will pay a premium equal to the amount of a person's spend down
amount;

(6)  Specifies that nonpayment of a premium will result in the
denial or termination of medical assistance;

(7)  Requires the Family Support Division to conduct an annual
income and eligibility review of every recipient at least once a
year during the month of February.  Persons renewing their
applications are to provide documentation of eligibility each
year or be denied participation in the program for that year;

(8)  Prohibits an individual who is eligible under this section
but is also eligible for Medicaid and the federal Medicare
Program from being eligible for continued prescription drugs or
medication assistance; and

(9)  Allows an individual who has been enrolled for four
consecutive months and lost his or her job due to a medical
condition or some other reason not attributable to the enrollee
to retain eligibility in this program for an additional three
months.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Income on General Revenue Fund of Less
than $25,352,268 in FY 2006, Less than $25,340,799 in FY 2007,
and Less than $25,338,745 in FY 2008.  No impact on Other State
Funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is necessary to
encourage disabled persons to return to work and to show that the
state cares about the disabled.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Portwood and Wright
(137); Family Support Division; Missouri Kidney Program; Missouri
Association for Social Welfare; Wayne Lee; Brenda Benedict;
Kirsten Dunham; Nancy Norman; Karren Jones; Richard Stevenson;
Barbara French; Margaret Jorgensen; Kimberly Sternemann; Gary
Copeland; Cindy Keel; and Bob Whitlock.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that the number of
hours an employed disabled must work each month and the premiums
should be reduced.

Others testifying on the bill were Disability Resource
Association of Jefferson City, Incorporated; and Rob Bowling.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:20 pm