This bill establishes a presumptive disability determination process for medical assistance eligibility in Minnesota, making significant amendments to the Minnesota Statutes. Notably, it replaces the term "aged or blind persons or persons with disabilities" with "persons age 65 or older" in section 256B.055, subdivision 7, and introduces a new subdivision (7b) that allows medical assistance for individuals age 64 or younger who meet specific eligibility criteria related to the Supplemental Security Income program. Additionally, the bill requires that applicants who do not meet the criteria for medical assistance be referred to the state medical review team for a disability determination. It also includes provisions for presumptive eligibility determinations by qualified hospitals based on specific medical conditions and clarifies asset and income limitations for eligibility.

Moreover, the bill mandates the commissioner to determine the eligibility of private-sector health care coverage for infants under one year of age and to verify assets and income for all applicants and recipients upon renewal using electronic data sources. It specifies that applicants must authorize the commissioner to obtain information from financial institutions to verify assets, with non-compliance potentially leading to ineligibility. The bill expands the definition of eligible individuals for certain demonstration projects to include those diagnosed with serious mental illnesses, severe emotional disturbances, or developmental disabilities, while allowing county authorities discretion in including additional individuals. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.055, 256B.056, 256B.057, 245D.02, 256.01, 256B.0761, 256B.77
1st Engrossment: 256B.055, 256B.056, 256B.057, 245D.02, 256.01, 256B.0761, 256B.77