HOUSE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 581, 687 PRINTER'S NO. 1027
No. 504 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY RHOADES, TARTAGLIONE, LEMMOND, FUMO, MOWERY, GREENLEAF, BRIGHTBILL, O'PAKE, SCARNATI, JUBELIRER, THOMPSON, WAUGH, LAVALLE, DENT, D. WHITE, COSTA, CORMAN, ARMSTRONG, STOUT, ROBBINS, WAGNER, MURPHY, WENGER, GERLACH, HELFRICK, TOMLINSON, CONTI, PICCOLA, KUKOVICH, MADIGAN, HOLL, SCHWARTZ, BOSCOLA, LOGAN, KITCHEN AND TILGHMAN, FEBRUARY 27, 2001
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 21, 2001
AN ACT 1 Providing for medical assistance benefits for workers with 2 disabilities; and imposing powers and duties on the 3 Department of Public Welfare. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Short title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Workers with 8 Disabilities Medical Assistance Act. 9 Section 2. Definitions. 10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 12 context clearly indicates otherwise: 13 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the 14 Commonwealth. 15 "Fund." The Tobacco Settlement Fund established by the act
1 of (P.L. , No. ), known as the Health 2 Investment Act. 3 "Medicare." The Federal program established under Title 4 XVIII of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1395 5 et seq.). 6 "Medical assistance." The State program of medical 7 assistance established under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, 8 No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code. 9 "Monthly income." The monthly income of an individual as 10 determined by the Department of Public Welfare when applying the 11 income deductions applicable in determining eligibility for 12 Medicare cost-sharing in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(E) 13 of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 14 1396a(a)(10)(E)). 15 "Worker with a disability." An individual who: 16 (1) Is between 16 and 64 years of age. 17 (2) Is employed at least 40 hours per month and is <-- 18 earning at least the applicable minimum wage under section 6 19 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (52 Stat. 1060, 29 20 U.S.C. § 206). 21 (2) IS EMPLOYED AND PROVIDES EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYMENT THAT <-- 22 THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE FINDS APPROPRIATE AND 23 NECESSARY. 24 (3) Is eligible to receive supplemental security income 25 except that earnings exceed the limit established in section 26 1905 of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 27 1396d(q)(2)(B)). 28 (4) Has monthly income below 250% of the Federal poverty 29 income guidelines. 30 (5) Has countable resources equal to or less than two 20010S0504B1027 - 2 -
1 times the supplemental security income resource level 2 established pursuant to section 1611 of the Social Security 3 Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1382). 4 Section 3. Medical assistance benefits for workers with 5 disabilities. 6 (a) Program establishment.--There is established in the 7 department a medical assistance purchase program for workers 8 with disabilities. Appropriations to the department from the 9 fund for the program shall be used by the department to provide 10 medical assistance to a worker with a disability. 11 (b) Worker with a disability responsibilities.--A worker 12 with a disability seeking to purchase medical assistance 13 benefits shall: 14 (1) Pay to the department or its designee 5% of the 15 worker's monthly income in a manner to be determined by the 16 department. 17 (2) Notify the department or its designee of any change 18 in the worker's monthly income in a manner to be determined 19 by the department. 20 (c) Provision of benefits.--Upon receipt of a worker's 21 payment under subsection (b)(1), the department or its designee 22 shall provide to the worker medical assistance benefits at the 23 level provided to supplemental security income adult recipients. 24 (d) Department responsibilities.--The department shall: 25 (1) Administer the medical assistance purchase program. 26 (2) Report on an annual basis to the General Assembly 27 the number of individuals purchasing medical benefits and the 28 average amount paid for benefits. 29 Section 4. Effective date. 30 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001, or immediately, 20010S0504B1027 - 3 -
1 whichever is later. B12L67MSP/20010S0504B1027 - 4 -