Relating to the personal needs allowance under the medical assistance program

This bill relates to the personal needs allowance under the medical assistance program. The personal needs allowance covers a person’s personal expenses not covered by the medical assistance program. Current law provides that a person who is a resident of a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability or mental illness, or a psychiatric medical institution for children may retain a personal needs allowance of $50 per month. A resident who has an income of less than $50 dollars per month shall receive a supplement from the state to receive a personal needs allowance of $50 per month. The bill increases the personal needs allowance to $75 per month and a resident with an income of less than $75 per month shall receive a supplement from the state. The bill provides that the department shall annually increase the personal needs allowance by the same percentage and at the same time as the federal supplemental security income and federal social security benefits are increased due to a recognized cost of living. The personal needs allowance shall not exceed $200 per month.