Relating to public assistance program integrity, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to various public assistance programs.F. DIVISION I. This division requires that prior to the department of health and human services (HHS) awarding public assistance benefits to an applicant, the applicant shall complete a computerized identity authentication process to confirm the identity of the applicant through the use of a knowledge-based questionnaire consisting of financial and personal questions tailored to assist persons without a bank account or those who have poor access to financial and banking services or who do not have an established credit history. The identity authentication process and questionnaire may be submitted online, in person, or via telephone by the applicant or a person authorized by the applicant. The bill also requires HHS to conduct an asset test on all members of the household of an applicant for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits. The bill specifies the minimum information, federal, state, and other data sources, and public records that HHS must access prior to determining eligibility for an applicant’s SNAP benefits. The bill requires HHS to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any department or subunit of a department to obtain the information specified. The bill’s provisions do not apply if every member of the applicant’s household receives supplemental security income. The bill authorizes HHS to adopt administrative rules to administer the bill and requires HHS to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly to assess the impact of the bill. DIVISION II. This division relates to SNAP and Medicaid program integrity by requiring HHS to, within specified time frames, receive and review state and federal information from various entities concerning individuals or individuals in households enrolled in the SNAP or the Medicaid program that indicates a change in circumstances that may affect eligibility. departments of workforce development, corrections, and revenue, and information identified by out-of-state electronic benefit transfer transactions. Additionally, the bill requires HHS to, on at least a monthly basis, cross-check information relating to individuals in households enrolled in SNAP or the Medicaid program, as applicable, with specified federal databases maintained by the United States social security administration, the United States department of health and human services, the United States department of housing and urban development, and the United States federal bureau of investigation. With regard to the Medicaid program only, the bill also requires that prior to determining eligibility for the Medicaid program, HHS shall access information for every member of an applicant’s household from the data sources outlined in the bill and conduct a review of nationwide public records data sources of physical asset ownership. The data sources may include but are not limited to records of real property and automobiles, watercraft, aircraft, luxury vehicles, and any other vehicles owned by the applicant. An applicant for Medicaid must also provide proof of residency. The bill also requires an applicant for SNAP benefits to cooperate with the child support recovery unit as a condition of eligibility as specified under federal law. The bill also directs HHS to request federal approval for a Medicaid section 1115 demonstration waiver to suspend requirements to use prepopulated eligibility renewal forms and to renew eligibility automatically based on available information. DIVISION III. terminated due to nonpayment of monthly contributions shall be allowed to subsequently reenroll in the program without first paying any outstanding monthly contributions, if the member has not been terminated from the program previously for nonpayment of monthly contributions, and (2) following an initial termination from the Iowa health and wellness plan, if an Iowa health and wellness plan member is subsequently terminated from the program for nonpayment of monthly contributions, the member shall be subject to payment of any outstanding monthly contributions accrued since the subsequent termination and not to exceed program limits prior to reenrollment in the program. The bill does not apply to an Iowa health and wellness plan member who is deemed to be in substantial compliance with the requirement to complete a wellness examination by providing proof of a scheduled examination appointment if the appointment is scheduled no later than days beyond the end of the applicable enrollment period. DIVISION IV. This division requires HHS to submit a request for federal approval by July 1, 2023, and annually by July 1, thereafter until federal approval is received, for a waiver to require that as a condition of eligibility, Iowa health and wellness plan members participate in community engagement activities. The bill specifies the types of community engagement activities to be required under the waiver submitted and provides exceptions to required participation in community engagement activities. The bill directs HHS to implement the waiver upon receipt of federal approval and to adopt administrative rules to administer the waiver provisions. DIVISION V. This division requires HHS to request a waiver from the United States department of agriculture, food and nutrition service, to provide that the eligible foods under the state administration of SNAP only include those items defined as supplemental foods in the most current Iowa special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) approved food list. implement the waiver upon receipt of approval of the waiver. The division also relates to the double up food bucks program by making a supplemental appropriation from the general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for fiscal year 2023-2024, in addition to any other funding appropriated for such purpose for the same fiscal year, to provide grants to support the double up food bucks program administered by the Iowa healthiest state initiative to make fresh fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets, grocery stores, and other participating locations accessible to individuals and families who reside in this state and receive assistance through SNAP. The division requires a double up food bucks program grant recipient to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match of the grant assistance. Moneys appropriated under the division do not revert at the close of the fiscal year but remain available for the purposes of the double up food bucks program. The supplemental appropriation for the double up food bucks program takes effect on the date HHS receives federal approval of the SNAP waiver, if the waiver is approved. DIVISION VI. This division provides implementation provisions for the bill. The bill requires HHS to request federal approval including for any state plan amendment or waiver necessary to administer the bill. If HHS determines that any provision of the bill would result in the denial of funds or services from the federal government that would otherwise be available or would be inconsistent with the requirements of federal law or regulation, such provision shall be suspended, but only to the extent necessary to eliminate the inconsistency with federal requirements. other departmental resource enhancements. The provisions of the bill requiring federal approval shall be implemented upon receipt of federal approval. The provisions of the bill not requiring federal approval shall be implemented as specified in the bill, and if it not specified in the bill, then not later than June 30, 2025.