The bill amends New Jersey Medicaid law to increase income and resource threshold limits for certain eligibility groups, specifically raising the income standard for medically needy individuals to 138 percent of the poverty level. It adjusts resource standards to $40,000 for one-person households and $60,000 for two-person households, with an additional $20,000 for each additional person in larger households. These changes are designed to expand Medicaid access for individuals and families who may have been previously ineligible due to stricter financial criteria. The bill also modifies definitions and eligibility criteria for Medicaid applicants, ensuring alignment with current federal standards and emphasizing the need for federal approval for these changes.

Additionally, the bill proposes significant changes to the eligibility criteria for various Medicaid programs, particularly for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) groups, as well as the Medically Needy and Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs. It raises the income eligibility threshold for the ABD group from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty level, increasing the annual limit for individuals from $15,060 to $20,783 by 2024. The Medically Needy Income Limit will also be adjusted to 138% of the federal poverty level, raising the monthly limit from $367 to $1,732. Furthermore, the bill establishes new resource standards for MLTSS and Medicare Savings Programs, aligning them with the Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiver (JACC) program, and tasks the Commissioner of Human Services with applying for necessary state plan amendments or waivers to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 30:4D-3