Relating to the maximum amount of available resources disregarded under the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program

This bill relates to the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities (MEPD) program. Currently, the income eligibility level requirement for the MEPD program is 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The bill increases the income eligibility level to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Currently, for the purposes of determining the resources of an individual to meet the eligibility requirements for the MEPD program, a maximum of $10,000 of available resources is disregarded, in addition to any additional resources held in a retirement account, in a medical savings account, or in any other account approved under rules adopted by the department of health and human services (HHS). The bill maintains the maximum amount of $10,000 in available resources disregarded for an individual, but provides that for the purposes of determining the resources of a couple, a maximum amount of $21,000 of available resources is disregarded in addition to additional resources held in a retirement account, in a medical savings account, or in any other account approved under rules adopted by HHS.