This bill amends sections of the North Dakota Century Code related to medical assistance benefits and Medicaid waivers. It establishes new eligibility criteria for medical assistance benefits, specifically stating that the Department shall disregard social security survivor income and court-ordered child support for children under eighteen enrolled in a Medicaid waiver under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act. Additionally, it mandates that the Department provide medical assistance benefits to pregnant women who are lawfully present in the United States and allows for the requirement of Medicare coverage applications for eligible individuals.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the Medicaid waivers section by extending eligibility for in-home services to children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder who are under the age of twenty-one, replacing the previous cutoff age of eighteen. 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 these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 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
PREFILED: 50-24.1-02.6, 50-24.1-26