An Act To Improve MaineCare and Promote Employment
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶E, as amended by PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §5 and affected by c. 673, Pt. Y, §3, is further amended to read:
The parent or caretaker relative described in this paragraph who has received benefits under this chapter in the past 3 months and whose income now exceeds the level in this paragraph may purchase coverage under this chapter for a period of up to 18 months at a premium level that does not exceed the premiums established for MaineCare under the Katie Beckett option authorized by the federal Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 and a contribution toward administrative costs no greater than the maximum level allowed under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985;
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶F, as amended by PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §5 and affected by c. 673, Pt. Y, §3, is further amended to read:
(2) If the commissioner reasonably anticipates the cost of the program to exceed the budget of the population described in this paragraph, the commissioner shall lower the maximum eligibility level to the extent necessary to provide coverage to as many persons as possible within the program budget.
(3) The commissioner shall give at least 30 days' notice of the proposed change in maximum eligibility level to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters . ;
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶G is enacted to read:
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶H is enacted to read:
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §3174-T, sub-§2, ¶E, as amended by PL 2001, c. 450, Pt. A, §3, is further amended to read:
(1) A child who is enrolled under paragraph A or B and whose family income at the end of the child's 12-month enrollment term exceeds the maximum allowable income set in that paragraph; and
(2) A child who is enrolled in the Medicaid program and whose family income exceeds the limits of that program. The department shall terminate Medicaid coverage for a child who enrolls in the Cub Care program under this subparagraph.
Sec. 6. Rules. The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this Act.
summary
The bill allows people who have received Medicaid for their children for the past 3 months whose income exceeds limits pursuant to Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph E-1 to purchase coverage for up to 18 months at premiums not to exceed those under the Katie Beckett program and limits contributions toward administrative costs to the maximum amount allowed under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.
The bill makes working disabled persons with unearned income that is equal to or below 150% of the nonfarm income official poverty line and with a combined total earned and unearned income that does not exceed 250% of the nonfarm income official poverty line eligible for Medicaid. It makes adults who are 19 or 20 years of age when the household income is equal to or below 200% of the nonfarm income official poverty line eligible for Medicaid.