The bill establishes a presumptive disability determination process for medical assistance eligibility in Minnesota, particularly focusing on individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those under 65 who are blind or disabled. It introduces new subdivisions that detail the conditions for medical assistance, including asset and income limitations, and requires that applicants who do not meet specific criteria be referred to the state medical review team for disability determinations. Additionally, hospitals participating in the medical assistance program must be qualified to make these determinations, especially for applicants with urgent medical needs. The bill also ensures that children's eligibility is assessed independently of their parents' resources and includes provisions for the exclusion of certain assets and income from eligibility calculations.

Moreover, the bill outlines new verification requirements for women seeking to continue medical assistance coverage after the 12-month postpartum period, mandating updates to income and asset information. The commissioner is tasked with evaluating the cost-effectiveness of private-sector health care coverage for infants under one year and verifying assets and income for all applicants. The bill expands the definition of eligible individuals for certain medical assistance programs, including those with serious mental illnesses or developmental disabilities, and authorizes financial institutions to verify assets. Compliance with established asset verification standards by county and tribal agencies is also required. 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