HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6223

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight

Title: An act relating to repealing the early supplemental security income transition project.

Brief Description: Repealing the early supplemental security income transition project.

Sponsors: Senators Regala, Hargrove and Stevens; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight: 2/22/12 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Schmick, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Green, Harris, Kagi, Overstreet, Pettigrew and Walsh.

Staff: Melissa Palmer (786-7388).

Background:

Assistance Programs.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) provides assistance under the Aged, Blind, or Disabled Cash Assistance Program (ABD Program) and the Pregnant Women Assistance Program to persons who meet eligibility requirements. Persons must meet income, resource, and incapacity standards. For the ABD Program, the incapacity standard includes having a medical or mental health impairment that is likely to meet federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability standards. A person is ineligible for the ABD Program if there has been a final determination that he or she is not eligible for federal SSI. Persons eligible for these programs receive both medical assistance and a cash grant. The maximum cash grant for one person is $197 per month. Prior to November 1, 2011, clients who were likely to meet SSI disability standards were served as part of the Expedited component of the Disability Lifeline Program.

Medical Care Services.

A person is eligible for Medical Care Services (MCS) if he or she meets the income, resource, and incapacity standards, which include having a physical or mental incapacity that will continue for at least 90 days preventing gainful employment. Incapacitated persons who are eligible for MCS receive medical assistance and do not receive a cash grant, but are referred to Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) services. A MCS client may be eligible for, but is not entitled to, housing assistance through HEN services. Prior to November 1, 2011, clients who were incapacitated for 90 days or longer were served as part of the Unemployable component of the Disability Lifeline Program.

Early Supplemental Security Income Transition Project.

Chapter 8, Laws of 2010 First Special Session (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2782) established the Early SSI Transition Project (SSI Project). The SSI Project required the DSHS to begin implementation in King, Pierce, and Spokane counties and expand statewide no later than October 1, 2011.

The SSI Project is to move persons likely eligible for SSI benefits from MCS or the ABD Program to SSI as quickly as practicable.

The contractor is responsible for managing the incapacity evaluations to provide timely access to medical and behavioral health evaluations and standardizing health care providers' conduct of incapacity exams, maintaining a centralized appointment and clinical data system, assisting clients in obtaining incapacity examinations, and screening clients that have not been transferred to the ABD Program to see if those clients are likely to meet the federal SSI disability standard. Additionally, the contractor facilitates the SSI application process for clients likely to meet the SSI disability standard.

The contract for the SSI Project expired December 31, 2011. The DSHS stopped referring clients under the SSI Project in October 2011. The DSHS was to report to the Governor and legislative committees regarding the performance of the SSI Project by December 1, 2011.

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Summary of Bill:

The Early Supplemental Security Income Transition Project is repealed.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on House Bill 2437 (companion bill).

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill repeals the section of statute pertaining to the Early Supplemental Security Income Transition Project, saving about $1 million per biennium. Both the Community Health Plan of Washington and the Department of Social and Health Services agree the project was not effective as designed.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: David Stillman, Department of Social and Health Services, Economic Services Administration.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.