This bill amends sections 50-24.1-02.6 and 50-24.1-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, focusing on medical assistance benefits and Medicaid waivers. A significant addition to the eligibility criteria for medical assistance benefits is the provision that the department shall disregard social security survivor income and court-ordered child support for children under eighteen who are enrolled in a Medicaid waiver under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the department will provide medical assistance benefits to pregnant women who are lawfully present in the United States and establishes that the income level for medically needy persons will not be less than what is required by federal law.

In terms of Medicaid waivers, the bill modifies the eligibility for in-home services by removing the age limit of eighteen for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, extending it to those under the age of twenty-one who would otherwise meet institutional level of care. The department is also given the authority to prioritize waiver applicants based on the degree of need for children with extraordinary medical needs. The effective date for the provisions in this bill is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
PREFILED: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26
Adopted by the House Human Services Committee: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26
Enrollment: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26
INTRODUCED: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26