SB 205 — AN ACT ELIMINATING INCOME AND ASSET LIMITS IN THE MED-CONNECT PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES.

General Assembly SubstituteRaised Bill No.

205 February Session, 2024 ANLCO ACTNo. ELIMINATING INCOME AND ASSET LIMITS IN THE MED- CONNECT PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES.

1362 Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES Introduced by:

(HS) AN ACT ELIMINATING INCOME AND ASSET LIMITS IN THE MED- CONNECT PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES.

The amendment shall include[include the following requirements:

(1) That the person be engaged in a substantial and reasonable work effort as determined by the commissioner and as permitted by federal law and have an annual adjusted gross income, as defined in Section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, of [no]no not more than [seventy-five]seventy-five eighty-five thousand dollarsLCO [perNo. year] for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025;

1362 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.205 dollars per year;

(3) for an unmarried person, an asset LCOlimit \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00205-R01 of 3ten SB.docxthousand Substitutedollars, Billand No.for a married couple, an asset limit of fifteen thousand dollars;

205 limit of[ten]twenty thousanddollars,and for amarriedcouple,anasset limit of [fifteen] thirty thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025;

and (7)(7)] arequire contribution(1) ofthat any countable income of the person orbe theengaged person'sin spousea whichexceedstwosubstantial hundredperand centreasonable ofthefederalpovertywork level,effort, as adjusteddetermined for the appropriate family size, equal to ten per cent of the excess minus any premiums paid from income for health insurance by any family member, but which does not exceed the maximumcommissioner contributionand allowable under Section 201(a)(3) of Public Law 106-170, as amendedpermitted fromby timefederal tolaw; time.

(c)and Notwithstanding(2) thea provisionscontribution of subsectionany (b)countable ofincome this section, onandafterJuly1,2025,thecommissionershallphaseintheelimination of incomethe andperson assetor limits for a participant in the programperson's overspouse fourwhichexceedstwo fiscalhundredper yearscent byofthefederalpoverty annuallylevel, increasingas (1)adjusted for the incomeappropriate limitfamily prescribedsize, inequal subdivisionto (1)ten ofper subsectioncent (b) of thisthe sectionexcess byminus tenany thousandpremiums dollars,paid andfrom (2)income thefor assethealth limitinsurance prescribedby inany subdivisionfamily (3)member, ofbut subsectionwhich (b)does ofnot thisexceed sectionthe bymaximum tencontribution thousandallowable dollarsunder forSection an201(a)(3) unmarriedof personPublic andLaw fifteen106-170, thousandas dollarsamended forfrom atime marriedto couple.time.

On(c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall implement the policies and afterprocedures Julynecessary 1,to 2028,carry thereout shallthe beprovisions noof incomethis orsection assetwhile limitin forthe eligibilityprocess forof adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the program.regulations is [published in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days after implementation] posted on the eRegulations System in accordance with section 17b-10.

[(c)] (d) The Commissionercommissioner of Social Services shall implementdefine the"countable policiesincome" andfor procedurespurposes necessaryof tosubsection carry(b) out the provisions of this section whilewhich inshall thetake processinto ofaccount adoptingimpairment-related suchwork policiesexpenses andas proceduresdefined in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulationsSocial isSecurity [publishedAct. in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days after implementation] posted on the eRegulations System in accordance with section 17b-10.

The commissioner shall define "countable income" for purposes of subsection (b) of this section which shall take into account LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00202 of 3 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

205 impairment-related work expenses as defined in the Social Security Act.

Sec.

2.

Section 17b-598 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):

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205 The Commissioner of Social Services shall seek a waiver from federal law to permit a person participating in the program established under section 17b-597, as amended by this act, to remain eligible for medical assistance under the Medicaid program in the event such person is unable to maintain a work effort for involuntary reasons.

No such person shall be required to make another application to determine continued eligibility for medical assistance under the Medicaid program.

In order to remain eligible for such medical assistance, such person shall (1) request that such assistance be continued for a period not to exceed twelve months from the date of the involuntary loss of employment, and (2) maintain a connection to the workforce as determined by the commissioner during such period.

At the end of the twelve-month period, such person shall meet the eligibility criteria for the Medicaid program, except that the commissioner shall disregard [any assets specified in subdivisions (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of section 17b-597] (A) any retirement and medical savings accounts established pursuant to 26 USC 220 and held by either the person or the person's spouse, and (B) any moneys in accounts designated by the person or the person's spouse for the purpose of purchasing goods or services that will increase the employability of such person, subject to approval by the commissioner.

Section 1 July 1, 2024 17b-597 HSSec. Joint Favorable Subst.

C/R2 APPJuly LCO1, R01-SB.docx2024 }OUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00205-17b-598 3Statement of 3Purpose:

To eliminate income and asset limits in a program providing Medicaid benefits for employees with disabilities.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except underlined.]e entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not LCO No.

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