AB 651

Currently, the Department of Health Services (DHS) administers the Medical

Assistance (MA) program, which is a joint federal and state program that provides

health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Some services

are provided through programs that operate under a waiver of federal Medicaid laws,

including services provided through the BadgerCare Plus (BC+) and BadgerCare

Plus Core (BC+ Core) programs. Under current law, certain parents and caretaker

relatives with incomes of not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL)

are eligible for BC+ benefits. Adults who are under age 65, who have a family income

that does not exceed 200 percent of the FPL and who are not otherwise eligible for

MA, including BC+, are eligible for benefits under BC+ Core under current law.

Beginning on January 1, 2014, the income eligibility level is 100 percent of the FPL

before a 5 percent income disregard is applied for parents and caretaker relatives

under BC+ and for all individuals under BC+ Core.

This bill requires DHS to submit on behalf of a county a waiver of federal

Medicaid law or a proposal for a demonstration program to the federal government

in order to provide MA benefits to adults whose family incomes do not exceed 133

percent of the FPL. Under the bill, DHS is required to assist, in good faith, the county

in preparing the waiver request or proposal for federal approval and in any

negotiations with the federal government. In any negotiations with the federal

government, DHS must promote approval of the waiver request or proposal and must

also seek the highest available federal medical assistance matching percentage

described in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. To qualify for

the highest available federal medical assistance matching percentage, DHS must

submit any necessary amendment to the state plan, submit any amendment to the

county's waiver request or proposal, and comply and assist the county in complying

with all federal requirements. If the county obtains federal permission to expand MA

eligibility, DHS must facilitate the administration of MA benefits in that county as

needed.