H.R. 1703 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1703 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 24, 2013 Mr. Boustany (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, and Mr. Tiberi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to permit States to reduce the amount of home equity that is exempted for purposes of determining eligibility for long-term care assistance under Medicaid and to eliminate the State Medicaid maintenance of effort requirement established under Public Law 111–148 with respect to eligibility standards to obtain Medicaid assistance for long-term care services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicaid Program Integrity Act of 2013 . 2. State option to reduce Medicaid home equity exemption amount (a) In general Section 1917(f)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(f)(1)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking $500,000, an amount that exceeds such amount, but does not exceed $750,000 and by inserting the following: $500,000— (i) an amount that exceeds such amount, but does not exceed $750,000; or (ii) an amount that is less than such amount, but is not less than $50,000. ; and (2) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by inserting (or beginning in 2014 in the case of subparagraph (B)(ii)) after beginning with 2011; and (B) by inserting (or nearest $100 in the case of subparagraph (B)(ii)) after nearest $1,000. (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to individuals who are determined eligible for medical assistance with respect to nursing facility services or other long-term care services based on an application filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Elimination of ACA maintenance of effort requirements with respect to Medicaid eligibility for long-term care services (a) In general Section 1902(gg) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(gg)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Nonapplication in case of eligibility for medical assistance for long-term care services The requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply to changes in standards (such as counting the value of life estates as a resource, counting the value of savings bonds in the year of their purchase, and not excluding the unpaid balance of an annuity as a resource) established for eligibility for medical assistance for long-term care services described in section 1917(c)(1)(C) so long as such changes would have been permitted under the law as in effect before the date of the enactment of Public Law 111–148. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to standards for eligibility determinations made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.