Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1998-01-23 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1998-01-23 Senate Journal Page 2276 SB 253 SENATE BILL NO. 253 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act relating to medical assistance for certain disabled persons; relating to personal care services for recipients of medical assistance; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social Services and Finance Committees. Fiscal notes published today from Health, Education and Social Services (4). 1998-01-23 Senate Journal Page 2277 SB 253 Governors transmittal letter dated January 22: Dear President Miller: It is imperative the State of Alaska offers strong incentives for people to choose employment over welfare. The bill I am transmitting today is another effort in my continued campaign to affect positive change in our public assistance system. It will prevent disabled Alaskans from having to choose between a job and health care by allowing them to buy into Medicaid coverage they may otherwise lose because of income ineligibility. The federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included a new state option permitting disabled persons to buy into Medicaid coverage if their family income is less than 250 percent of the official poverty line and they would, but for personal earned income, be eligible for supplemental security income. The provision also authorizes the state to require these Medicaid recipients to share the cost of coverage through premiums or other charges, on a sliding scale based on income. The premiums collected from the disabled are not expected to cover all costs associated with the additional Medicaid coverage. However, the benefits of encouraging employment, increasing productivity, and maintaining care for the disabled should outweigh cost increases to the Medicaid program. The bill also amends the definition of one of the optional medical services available to recipients of state medical assistance. The amendment, to the definition of "personal care services in a recipient's home," would allow the Department of Health and Social Services more flexibility in implementing the program and would result in a more appropriate delivery of services in this state. Before the recent change in federal law regarding Medicaid, a disabled person with a family income above the eligibility line had few, if any options for coverage of medical care. This situation provided a strong disincentive to continued employment because 1998-01-23 Senate Journal Page 2278 SB 253 medical costs for the disabled often exceeded the income that disqualified them from Medicaid coverage. This bill is an opportunity to encourage disabled Alaskans to return to work without the threat of losing vital medical coverage. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor