The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.059, subdivision 5, to modify the criteria for determining asset availability for medical assistance eligibility for institutionalized spouses. It specifies that assets owned by a community spouse, including life estates, will not be considered available to the institutionalized spouse when assessing eligibility for medical assistance benefits. Additionally, the bill clarifies that assets exceeding the community spouse asset allowance can still be disregarded if certain conditions are met, such as the institutionalized spouse's inability to access those assets without the community spouse's consent.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a retroactive effective date of June 24, 2020, ensuring that the new provisions apply to all applications for medical assistance submitted before, on, or after that date. This change aims to provide greater protection for the financial resources of community spouses while ensuring that institutionalized spouses can still access necessary medical assistance.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.059