House Bill No. 6775 aims to enhance the personal needs allowance (PNA) for Medicaid recipients residing in long-term care facilities by instituting annual cost-of-living adjustments. The bill mandates that starting July 1, 2025, the Department of Social Services commissioner will increase the PNA, currently set at $75 per month, by an amount equal to 25% of the annual cost-of-living adjustment in the federal Supplemental Security Income Program, if applicable. This adjustment will ensure that the PNA keeps pace with inflation, allowing residents to maintain a portion of their income for personal expenses such as haircuts, phone bills, and hobbies.

The bill also repeals and replaces existing legal language in sections 17b-106 and 17b-272 of the general statutes to reflect these changes. Specifically, it removes the previous provisions regarding the PNA and introduces new language that establishes the annual adjustment mechanism. The fiscal impact of this bill is projected to cost the Department of Social Services between $500,000 to $800,000 in FY 26 and $1 million to $1.6 million in FY 27, as it accounts for the anticipated increases in the PNA based on historical cost-of-living adjustments.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
AGE Joint Favorable:
File No. 25: