A bill for an act
relating to human services; allowing direct support professionals to access
MinnesotaCare; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections
256L.04, by adding a subdivision; 256L.15, subdivision 2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256L.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
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(a) Individuals and families with
household income equal to or less than 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the
applicable family size who otherwise are ineligible for MinnesotaCare under subdivision
7a are eligible for MinnesotaCare without federal participation if an individual in the
household provides direct support services. "Direct support services" means in-home,
nonprofessional, long-term services and supports provided to an older adult or person with
a disability and funded in whole or in part by medical assistance, including by the home
and community-based waivers, alternative care, the essential community supports program,
or community support grants.
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(b) The individual who provides direct support services must work 20 hours per week
providing direct support services for the individual's household to qualify for MinnesotaCare
under this subdivision. Once a household is eligible for MinnesotaCare under this subdivision,
the individual providing direct support services may work fewer than 20 hours per week
providing direct support services for a maximum of four weeks within a single
redetermination period without the household losing eligibility.
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(c) The individual providing direct support services must submit proof of employment
providing direct support services to the commissioner of human services to establish
eligibility for MinnesotaCare under this subdivision. For individuals eligible under this
section, MinnesotaCare coverage must begin one month after submission of proof of
employment. A redetermination of eligibility must occur every six months.
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Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256L.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
(a) The commissioner
shall establish a sliding fee scale to determine the percentage of monthly individual or family
income that households at different income levels must pay to obtain coverage through the
MinnesotaCare program. The sliding fee scale must be based on the enrollee's monthly
individual or family income.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2014, MinnesotaCare enrollees shall pay premiums according
to the premium scale specified in paragraph (d).
(c) Paragraph (b) does not apply to:
(1) children 20 years of age or younger; and
(2) individuals with household incomes below 35 percent of the federal poverty
guidelines.
(d) The following premium scale is established for each individual in the household who
is 21 years of age or older and enrolled in MinnesotaCare:
|
Federal Poverty Guideline Greater than or Equal to |
Less than |
Individual Premium Amount |
| 35% |
55% |
$4 |
| 55% |
80% |
$6 |
| 80% |
90% |
$8 |
| 90% |
100% |
$10 |
| 100% |
110% |
$12 |
| 110% |
120% |
$14 |
| 120% |
130% |
$15 |
| 130% |
140% |
$16 |
| 140% |
150% |
$25 |
| 150% |
160% |
$37 |
| 160% |
170% |
$44 |
| 170% |
180% |
$52 |
| 180% |
190% |
$61 |
| 190% |
200% |
$71 |
| 200% |
$80 |
(e) Beginning January 1, 2021, the commissioner shall adjust the premium scale
established under paragraph (d) to ensure that premiums do not exceed the amount that an
individual would have been required to pay if the individual was enrolled in an applicable
benchmark plan in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 600.505
(a)(1).
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(f) Individuals eligible for MinnesotaCare under section 256L.04, subdivision 15, shall
pay an individual premium of $80 per month. Children 20 years of age or younger are
exempt from premiums under this paragraph.
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$....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the health care access fund to the
commissioner of human services to provide state-only funded MinnesotaCare coverage to
individuals eligible under Minnesota Statutes, section 256L.04, subdivision 15.
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