HB 64-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0172

05/01

HOUSE BILL 64-FN

AN ACT relative to responsibility for public medical assistance.

SPONSORS: Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that an individual’s spouse or parents, if the individual is under 21 years of age, may be liable for state medical assistance provided to the individual.

This bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0172

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to responsibility for public medical assistance.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Responsibility for Public Medical Assistance. Amend RSA 167:3-b to read as follows:

167:3-b Responsibility for Public Medical Assistance. The provisions of RSA 167:2, 3 and 3-a, do not apply to the administration of medical assistance, except with respect to the spouse of an individual who needs medical care or services, or the parent of such individual, if the individual is under 21 years of age.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2010.

LBAO

09-0172

Revised 02/06/09

HB 64 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to responsibility for public medical assistance.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill would decrease state general fund expenditures by $665,972 in FY 2010, and by an indeterminable amount in FY 2011 and each year thereafter. This bill may increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. This bill would have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue, or county expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill would allow the Department to deem parental income and resources to children under the age of 18 when determining eligibility for Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB). This would bring the Department into compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The Department states that there are approximately 114 ANB recipients who are under age 18 and who reside with at least one parent. Approximately 89 of the 114 ANB children who reside with their parent(s) have zero net income and receive the maximum grant of $651 per month. As of January 1, 2009, the maximum grant increased to $688. Approximately 67 of the 89 children (75%) with zero net income will lose eligibility for financial assistance when their parents' income and resources are counted. The remaining 22 of the 89 children (25%) will have an average grant reduction of $285 per month. The Department states there would be 19 children with income who will lose eligibility for financial assistance with an average cash grant of $291, and 6 children who would not be impacted. The Department estimates a decrease in expenditures for ANB financial assistance as follows -

Aid to the Need Blind (ANB)

Grant Annual

Children Reduction Months Savings

No other income & will

lose eligibility 67 $(688) 12 $(553,152)

No other income & will

experience a grant reduction 22 $(285) 12 $ (75,240)

With other income & will

experience a grant reduction 19 $(291) 12 $ (66,348)

Total ANB Annual Savings $(694,740)

In addition to the estimated ANB financial assistance savings, the Department states there will be a one-time New HEIGHTS systems-related cost of $28,768 to implement the provisions of this bill. As a result, state general fund expenditures will decrease in FY 2010 as follows -

FY 2010

ANB Financial Assistance Savings $(694,740)

New HEIGHTS One-Time Cost $ 28,768

Total General Fund Savings $(665,972)

The Department is unable to estimate the general fund savings in subsequent fiscal years. The Department states the loss or reduction in ANB financial assistance may result in some individuals requesting assistance from their city or town. The exact fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time.