Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/16/2000 03:40 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 247-VETERANS'ELIGIBILITY FOR LONGEVITY BONUS
MS. ANNETTE KREITZER, Legislative Staff for Senator Leman, stated
SB 247 deals with a narrow segment of the population who are
veterans in nursing homes and whose nursing home care is being paid
for by veteran's benefits.
MR. LADDIE SHAW, Special Assistant, Office of Veterans Affairs,
stated support for SB 247. The veterans are deserving of the
longevity benefits even if they are receiving other benefits.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked whether SB 247 is a discrimination issue if
longevity bonuses are expanded to include veterans benefits
recipients.
MR. JAMES KOHN, Director of Alaska Longevity Programs, stated no,
SB 247 would not expand longevity bonuses to any persons other than
veterans.
Number 541
SENATOR GREEN asked if people on Medicare and Social Security are
currently receiving their longevity bonuses.
MR. KOHN said yes, social security and other benefits are
considered personal income and would fall under the category of the
1992 statute. Only three categories of payment in skilled nursing
care would make a person ineligible for the longevity bonus:
Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' benefits.
SENATOR GREEN asked why a person on Medicare would not be eligible
for the longevity bonus.
MR. KOHN stated the person on Medicare does not receive the bonus
because Medicare is a federal benefit. Anyone who is receiving
state or federal benefits for skilled nursing care immediately
becomes ineligible for the bonus. SB 247 would make an exception
to the statute.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked where these veterans are currently residing.
MS. MARIE MARX, Legislative Staff for Senator Leman, stated one
person lives in Fairbanks, two live in Providence in Anchorage, one
in Sitka, and one in Seward.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked to abstain from voting because he works for
Providence Hospital during the interim period. Senator Elton
objected.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if people receiving Native corporation
dividends were still eligible for the longevity bonus.
MS. KREITZER stated if a Native corporation dividend was received
that person would be ineligible for the longevity bonus that month,
but can reapply the following month.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked if SB 247 creates a limited entry program.
MS. MARX stated yes, it is only for people who applied before the
1997 deadline, and the application needs to be on file.
SENATOR GREEN asked if any circumstances would change the amount
received from the federal government for a person living at home,
then moving into a skilled nursing facility.
MS. KREITZER stated nothing would change the amount received from
the federal government.
SENATOR GREEN asked if a person's residency at a skilled nursing
facility impacts how much that person receives from the federal
government.
MS. MARX stated it depends on what the coverage was when that
person signed up for benefits. The monthly stipend and monthly
contract determine how much that person will receive.
SENATOR GREEN stated it is hard to differentiate between veteran's
benefits and Medicare.
MS. KREITZER stated that Senator Leman's belief is these people put
their lives at risk and are deserving of the longevity bonus.
MS. NANCY WELLER, Medical Assistance Administrator, Division of
Medical Assistance, stated Medicare has limited skilled nursing
benefits. Medicare covers nursing home care for a short duration,
usually for rehabilitation after a hospitalization. Medicaid pays
for long-term nursing care.
SENATOR GREEN asked what the definition of Medicare is.
MS. WELLER stated Medicare is a federal program funded under Title
18 of the Social Security Act. It is health care coverage that is
available to disabled people, and people age 65 and older.
SENATOR GREEN asked if people on Medicare pay premiums.
MS. WELLER replied yes. For lower income people Medicaid pays the
premium for Medicare.
SENATOR GREEN asked if a person were to pay their own premium
whether they would be eligible for the longevity bonus.
MS. WELLER stated yes.
SENATOR GREEN stated the only difference between some people is
that their premiums are paid from Medicaid for the Medicare
program. She asked if there is a distinction between people who
have Medicaid assistance with their premium and people who do not.
MS. WELLER replied people who do not receive Medicaid assistance to
pay for premiums are people who are not low income.
SENATOR GREEN stated for the purpose of longevity bonus those
people are treated the same.
MR. KOHN stated in the Medicare program a premium is paid. If one
cannot pay the premium then Medicaid will pay the premium.
Veterans do not pay a premium for veterans benefits because they
earn those benefits.
SENATOR WILKEN moved SB 247 out of committee with individual
recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection,
the motion carried.
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