Amendment #810 to H4000

Raising the Personal Needs Allowance

Representatives O'Day of West Boylston, Fox of Boston, Khan of Newton, Hecht of Watertown, DiNatale of Fitchburg, Miceli of Wilmington, Silvia of Fall River and Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield move to amend H. 4000 by inserting the following section:

"Section XX: (a) Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any person eligible for assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is receiving care in or residing in a licensed nursing facility, licensed chronic hospital, licensed rest home, or an approved public medical institution as defined in section 8 of chapter 118E, shall retain the first $100 of his monthly income for dental care, uncovered medical expenses, clothing, personal needs, and leisure activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.

(b) Chapter 118A of General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 7A the following new section:--

Section 7B. Any person eligible for financial assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is in a licensed medical facility which is eligible for medical assistance payments pursuant to chapter 118E or is residing in a licensed rest home to which such person pays a faxed rate, shall retain the first $100 of his monthly income for dental care, uncovered medical expenses, clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100 such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this chapter.

Section 15 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

(c) A person eligible for medical assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his own home and is receiving care in a licensed nursing facility, a licensed chronic hospital, a licensed rest home, an approved public medical institution, or a public psychiatric institution shall retain the fist $72.80 of his monthly income for dental care, uncovered medical expenses, clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who is maintaining his own home and who is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.