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SCR108................................................by HEALTH AND WELFARE
MEDICAID BUY-IN PROGRAM - Stating findings of the Legislature and directing
the Department of Health and Welfare to develop a Medicaid buy-in program
and report to the Legislature.
02/12 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/13 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
02/14 10th Ord - ADOPTED - Voice Vote
Title apvd - to House
02/15 House intro - 1st rdg - to Health/Wel
03/13 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/14 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/15 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote - to Senate
03/16 To enrol
03/19 Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/20 Sp signed
03/21 To Secretary of State
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session - 2001
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 108
BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
3 WELFARE TO COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP A MEDICAID BUY-IN PROGRAM FOR THE DIS-
4 ABLED POPULATION THAT WOULD ALLOW RECIPIENTS WHO RETURN TO THE WORK FORCE
5 TO HAVE THE OPTION OF BUYING MEDICAID COVERAGE ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE
6 UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN INSURANCE WHICH PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR THE
7 NECESSARY SERVICES.
8 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
9 WHEREAS, Idaho's Medicaid Reform Advisory Council (1996) found that a
10 major barrier to Idahoans with disabilities wanting to work is the fear of
11 losing their Medicaid benefits when they return to the work force;
12 WHEREAS, individuals wanting to work themselves off the system are trapped
13 by the "all-or-nothing" nature of the Medicaid program (i.e., if a person's
14 income is below a certain level, he or she receives full Medicaid benefits; if
15 a person makes one dollar more, he or she receives nothing);
16 WHEREAS, the Idaho Medicaid Reform Advisory Council recommended that the
17 Department of Health and Welfare request a federal waiver to establish a Med-
18 icaid buy-in program with a sliding fee scale for the disabled population that
19 would allow recipients who return to the work force to keep their Medicaid
20 intact until they are able to obtain insurance which provides coverage for the
21 necessary services;
22 WHEREAS, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999
23 allows states the option of a Medicaid buy-in to working individuals who would
24 be Medicaid eligible, except for increased income;
25 WHEREAS, the state was awarded grant funds from the Health Care Financing
26 Administration (HCFA) to analyze and design a Medicaid buy-in initiative for
27 legislative consideration in 2002.
28 WHEREAS, a Medicaid buy-in program would enable recipients to achieve
29 self-sufficiency and independence;
30 WHEREAS, a Medicaid buy-in program would minimize the risk of increased
31 group insurance rates to employers who hire individuals with disabilities;
32 WHEREAS, a Medicaid buy-in program would help integrate skilled recipients
33 into the work force and transition them off Medicaid;
34 WHEREAS, over time, a Medicaid buy-in program would enable participants to
35 contribute to society as they pay taxes and reduce or eliminate their need for
36 public assistance.
37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
38 of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Representa-
39 tives concurring therein, that the Legislature directs the Department of
40 Health and Welfare to collaboratively develop a Medicaid buy-in program to
41 help transition people with disabilities back into the work force while making
42 available the necessary health care coverage on a sliding fee scale.
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and Welfare will
44 present the Medicaid buy-in initiative whereby Medicaid recipients who are
2
1 disabled can work themselves off the system and achieve self-sufficiency and
2 independence for legislative consideration in 2002.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 11122
One of the problems in the Medicaid program is that recipients are
reluctant to get jobs that will make them ineligible for Medicaid
benefits. This solution will authorize the Department of Health and
Welfare to study options for a "phase in" of Medicaid "buy in" on a
graduated basis for their obtaining work and moving off Medicaid. It
does not obligate the Legislature to enact the results of the study.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impacts. The study will be paid for by a grant obtained for
that purpose.
Contact
Name: Grant Ipsen
Phone: 332-1326
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SCR 10