The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7103, amends Section 17b-283 of the general statutes to establish the Katie Beckett Waiver Program, which provides Medicaid home and community-based services for individuals with severe physical disabilities. A significant change in the bill is the reduction of the maximum age for participants from twenty-one to eighteen years old. This adjustment allows young adults to transition to a different Medicaid program, HUSKY C, upon turning eighteen. The bill also mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to develop a five-year plan aimed at eliminating the waiting list for the program and to include home modification coverage for participants. The plan must be reported to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to publish essential information regarding the Katie Beckett Waiver Program on its website by January 1, 2026. This includes eligibility criteria, available services, and resources for families. The DSS is also tasked with administering an annual survey to individuals on the waiting list to confirm their status and demographic information. House Amendment "A" further refines the bill by extending the deadline for the report on the five-year plan and adding requirements for the DSS website and the annual survey, while removing a provision for creating a brochure about the program. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, for the age adjustment, while other provisions are effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HS Joint Favorable:
File No. 467:
APP Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 913:
File No. 941: