Budget Amendment ID: FY2016-S3-747-R1

Redraft EHS 747

Expanding Eligibility for Home Care Services I

Mrs. L'Italien, Mr. Moore, Ms. Flanagan, Mr. Joyce, Ms. Gobi, Ms. Lovely and Mr. Eldridge moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 105 the following section:-

“Section 105A.  Up to $6,257,231 from the Community First Trust Fund established in section 35AAA of chapter 10 of the General Laws shall be expended to phase in eligibility for home care services provided in items 9110-1500, 9110-1630 and 9100-1633 for persons whose incomes do not exceed 300 per cent of the federal poverty level and a sliding fee scale for persons receiving home care services whose incomes exceed the limits established pursuant to section 9 of chapter 118 of the General Laws; provided, however, that the department of elder affairs shall report, not later than October 1, 2015, to the house and senate committees on ways and means on: (i) enrollment data and any other information relevant to caseload forecasting for the Home Care Basic Program and the Enhanced Community Options Program at current levels; (ii) projected utilization of services provided by the Home Care Basic Program and the Enhanced Community Options Program with eligibility expanded to include the individuals whose incomes do not exceed 275 per cent of the federal poverty level and with eligibility expanded to include the individuals whose income does not exceed 300 per cent of the federal poverty level; (iii) the projected fiscal impact of expanding eligibility to include the individuals whose incomes do not exceed 275 per cent of the federal poverty level and the individuals whose incomes do not exceed 300 per cent of the federal poverty level; (iv) program design considerations regarding the application of cost-sharing revenues to best support individuals in an expansion population of up to 300 per cent of the federal poverty level; and (v) revenue sources that shall fully support the costs associated with implementation of the eligibility expansion in fiscal year 2017 that should include opportunities to seek out a state plan amendment pursuant to section 1915(i) of the federal Social Security Act.”.