I am reintroducing legislation (HB 331 from last session) to add section 443.13 to the Human Services Code, which will effectuate new waivers under the medical assistance program to increase integrity. While waivers must be approved by the federal government, this important step ensures our medical assistance program remains available for our most vulnerable citizens and keeps fraudsters out of the system.

Specifically, my legislation will require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to annually apply for waivers for the following:

• Fraud lockout — prohibit re-enrollment and deny eligibility for up to six months for non-disabled, non-pregnant adults between the ages of 19-64 years who fail to report changes in circumstances impacting their eligibility.
• Redetermination waiver — enable DHS to redetermine eligibility every six months instead of annually.
• Suspension of automatic renewal and prepopulated forms to ensure redeterminations occur using correct information.

These three simple, common-sense waivers will make sure our finite tax dollars only go to those who truly need assistance. I hope you will join me in this legislative proposal to bring integrity to our medical assistance program.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0242: P.L.31, No.21