HCS HB 1742 -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES

SPONSOR:  Bruns (Portwood)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Senior
Citizen Advocacy by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute requires the Department of Social Services to
determine the eligibility of an employed disabled person
requesting medical assistance whose family gross income is less
than 250% of the federal poverty level.  The substitute:

(1)  Requires that an individual meet the definition of a
disabled person under the federal Supplemental Security Income
Program or of an employed individual with a medically improved
disability under the federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act of 1999;

(2)  Requires an individual who has a net income that does not
exceed the limit for permanent and totally disabled individuals
to receive non-spenddown Missouri Medicaid benefits;

(3)  Requires any participant whose gross income exceeds 100% of
the federal poverty level to pay a premium for participation in
this program;

(4)  Requires an individual to participate in an
employer-sponsored health insurance plan if the department
determines that it is more cost effective;

(5)  Exempts any income earned through certified extended
employment at a sheltered workshop for the purposes of
determining eligibility; and

(6)  Exempts medical savings accounts and independent living
accounts limited to deposits of earned income with a value not
exceeding $2,500 from the asset limits for eligibility.

The provisions of the substitute will expire three years from the
effective date.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$7,613,255 in FY 2007, $7,943,961 in FY 2008, and $8,300,054 in
FY 2009.  Subject to appropriations.  No impact on Other State
Funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will give the disabled
the opportunity to work without the fear of losing their health
care coverage and will enhance the dignity of disabled
individuals' lives by increasing their level of self-sufficiency,
decreasing their dependency on unearned income and social
services, and allowing them to become contributors to state funds
through shared premiums.  The bill will also encourage disabled
individuals to work more hours in order to offset higher levels
of unearned income.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Portwood and Spreng;
Department of Social Services; Lafayette Industries; Paraquad,
Incorporated; Missouri Organization of Centers for Independent
Living; Epilepsy Education Organization - Epilepsy Foundation of
the St. Louis Region; Gateway Area Chapter of the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society; Missouri Association of Sheltered
Workshop Managers; Missouri Association for Community Action,
Incorporated; and Missouri Association of Rehabilitation
Facilities.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alex Curchin, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:44 am