HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1199

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Prohibits the Health Care Authority (Authority) from establishing restrictions for the Health Care for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) program based on a person's income or maximum age.
Directs the Authority to seek federal approval to exclude resources earned while a person is enrolled in the HWD program from being counted when establishing eligibility for a Medical Assistance program.

Background:

A person may qualify for federal Social Security benefits if the person has a disability that does not allow the person to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically-determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death, or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. The program includes several types of employment supports that are intended to help a person find a job, protect cash and medical benefits while the person works, and save for education. One of these supports is the federal Ticket to Work program. One element of the Ticket to Work program allows a person returning to work to buy in to Medicaid coverage.

Washington has implemented the Medicaid buy-in element of the Ticket to Work program through the Health Care for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) program. To qualify for the HWD program, a person must be age 16 through 64, meet federal disability standards, have a net income at or below 220 percent of the federal poverty level, and be employed either full- or part-time. Enrollees in the HWD program must pay a premium based on a sliding scale that is not to exceed 7.5 percent of the enrollees income.

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Summary of Bill:

The Health Care Authority (Authority) may not establish eligibility restrictions for the Health Care for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) program based on a person's income or maximum age. Information about a person's income may only be used to establish cost sharing requirements.

The Authority must seek federal approval to exclude resources earned during a person's enrollment in the HWD program from being counted as resources when the person is establishing eligibility for another Medical Assistance program.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill helps people with disabilities who want to go back to work but are afraid that they may lose their Medicaid coverage. This bill eliminates the income cap and age limit and asks the federal government to protect the person's assets so they can easily move back on to Medicaid services without having to spend down their assets. People who would like to work more hours find themselves limited by the Health Care for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) program income limit. By allowing the income cap to go up it allows people to pay for more of their other services and be more self-sufficient in the community. It does not make sense to have people lose eligibility for the HWD program at age 65 because many people want to work beyond that age.

This bill will make a tremendous impact on the quality of life for many people with disabilities. This bill will help people maintain their ability to live in the community. Medicaid helps people pay their for their medicine, health care, and other supports that people need to be successful. The additional supports provided by Medicaid are not available in traditional health insurance programs and without them people would not be able to live in the community or maintain their jobs. Medicaid provides nearly all of the vital supports for people with disabilities, such as personal care, employment supports and residential services. The HWD program was created to address these issues but needs to be updated to reflect today's realities. As people make more money they face impossible choices; they either have to lose their benefits or cut their hours. Individuals need to suppress their opportunities to earn more wages because they fear losing their Medicaid supports and services.

(Opposed) None.