WSR 24-04-017
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed January 27, 2024, 9:41 a.m.]
NOTICE
Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 24-0018 Income Limit Increase for the Medicare Savings Program for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries.
Effective Date: April 1, 2024.
Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit SPA 24-0018 in order to increase the income limit for two of the medicare savings programs (MSPs), qualified medicare beneficiary (QMB), and qualified individual (QI-1). MSPs help with medicare copays, deductibles, and monthly premiums for qualified recipients. In SPA 24-0018, HCA will increase the federal poverty limit (FPL) of QMB from 100 percent to 110 percent FPL and increase the FPL of QI-1 from 135 percent FPL to 138 percent. Increasing the income limit for medicare savings programs will allow more low-income medicare recipients to qualify and bring more federal resources, such as the low-income subsidy (LIS) drug benefit, to more needy individuals. The result allows individuals to keep more of their income for other necessary things, reduces administrative burden, and puts more federal money into our local economy.
SPA 24-0018 is expected to have no effect on the annual aggregate expenditures/reimbursement/payment for services.
SPA 24-0018 is in the development process; therefore, a copy is not yet available for review. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy when it becomes available or submit comments, please contact the person named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).
CONTACT: Ariel Pyrtek, Office of Medicaid Eligibility Policy, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-1343, TRS 711, fax 360-664-2186, email Ariel.Pyrtek@hca.wa.gov.