"An Act relating to cooperation of insurers with the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to subrogation, assignment, and lien rights and notices for medical assistance claims; relating to recovery of medical assistance overpayments; relating to asset transfers and income diversion by medical assistance applicants; relating to assets and Medicare enrollment as they affect medical assistance coverage; relating to home and community-based services; relating to medical assistance applications for persons under 21 years of age; requiring a report by the Department of Health and Social Services; and providing for an effective date. "

In times when federal dollars are diminishing the legislature will have to decide policy for providing for the public health. To better provide medical assistance to the truly needy, some eligibility requirements need to be changed.

First, under existing law, a stepparent's income is not counted as household income if that income would disqualify a child for medical assistance. House Bill 426 would provide that medical assistance eligibility follow the same guidelines as other public assistance programs.

This bill also requires person receiving medical assistance to be a legal resident of the United States and requires a person applying for medical assistance for a minor to be that person's parent or legal guardian, unless the parent or legal guardian is a minor.

Lastly, this bill eliminates a loophole brought to my attention last fall. Under current law a child could be placed in residential treatment and qualify for medical assistance after being out of the family home for thirty days, even though one or both parents have medical insurance.

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