HB 64-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2009… 0541h

2009 SESSION

09-0172

05/01

HOUSE BILL 64-FN

AN ACT relative to eligibility for Aid to the Needy Blind.

SPONSORS: Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Directs the department of health and human services to adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to deeming parental income of new applicants for Aid to the Needy Blind who are under 18 years of age.

II. Requires the department to review current program participation to determine the effect the change in financial eligibility would have on current participants and to determine their eligibility for alternative Medicaid eligibility category.

III. Requests that the department submit a report to the legislature on its assessment of the Aid to the Needy Blind program.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2009… 0541h

09-0172

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to eligibility for Aid to the Needy Blind.

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

1 Rulemaking; Methodology for Determining Eligibility for Aid to the Needy Blind.

I. The department of health and human services shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to utilize the Social Security Income methodology which deems parental income in determining financial eligibility for any new applicants under the age of 18 for Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB). The new methodology adopted pursuant to this section shall take effect on July 1, 2010 and shall apply only to applicants who apply to the program on or after July 1, 2010.

II. With the exception of the change required under paragraph I, the department shall not change the eligibility requirements or income methodologies, including any application of parental deeming of income in determining eligibility for current ANB recipients under the age of 18.

2 Review of ANB Program. No later than September 30, 2009, the department of health and human services shall determine whether each current recipient of ANB who is under the age of 18 would lose Medicaid eligibility if parental deeming were applied and whether the recipient is eligible for Medicaid under any other alternative Medicaid eligibility category. In complying with this section, the department shall work with each recipient and his or her family to determine the recipient’s Medicaid eligibility under ANB if parental deeming applied and the recipient’s eligibility for Medicaid through alternative Medicaid eligibility categories, other than ANB.

3 Legislative Report on ANB Program. On or before November 1, 2009, the department of health and human services shall submit a report to the chairperson of the house health and human services and elderly affairs committee, the chairperson of the senate health and human services committee, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate which shall:

I. Detail the department’s findings under section 2 of this act.

II. Identify the number of current ANB recipients under the age of 18 who would be eligible for Medicaid under an alternative Medicaid eligibility category and the number that would not be so eligible.

III. Identify the number of current ANB recipients who would lose Medicaid eligibility if parental deeming as implemented in the Social Security Income program were used to determine ANB eligibility and who would not be eligible for Medicaid under an alternative program.

IV. Calculate, based on each recipient’s past Medicaid expenditure data, the total annual Medicaid costs of current ANB recipients who would be ineligible for ANB if parental deeming methodologies were applied and who would not be eligible under any alternative Medicaid eligibility category.

V. Detail the amount of any additional costs that would be incurred by an ANB recipient as a result of receiving Medicaid through an alternative Medicaid eligibility category, other than ANB, including but not limited to estimated spend down amounts required for the current ANB recipient to obtain Medicaid through an alternative program.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

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.