MA H519

Bill

MA H519

Relative to the calculation of income for spouses of nursing home residents

Introduced
01/20/2015

In Committee
02/04/2016

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
07/31/2016

Introduced Session

189th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to the calculation of income for spouses of nursing home residents. Elder Affairs.

AI Summary

This bill amends existing law concerning how income is calculated for a spouse who remains at home while their partner resides in a nursing home, often referred to as the "community spouse." Specifically, it clarifies that the division, which likely refers to a state agency like the Department of Elder Affairs, must adjust the "community spouse resource allowance" – the amount of assets a community spouse can keep – according to federal law. If a fair hearing is requested and it's proven that the community spouse's income falls below their minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, the allowance will be increased to cover the income shortfall, again following federal guidelines. The bill also specifies that interest income on this allowance will be calculated using average money market rates reported by Bank Rate Inc. on the day of the hearing.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (4)

John Fernandes (D)*, Carolyn Dykema (D), Robert Koczera (D), Paul McMurtry (D),

Last Action

Accompanied S619 (on 05/05/2016)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H519

(11 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H519
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H519
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H519.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1005	Relative to trauma informed services	Read second and ordered to a third reading	Similar To
H126	Relative to living at home with use of technology for people with disabilities and seniors	Accompanied a study order, see H4635	Similar To
H2566	Updating non-taxable medical supplies	Accompanied a study order, see H4639	Similar To
H527	Relative to promoting innovation in eldercare services	Committee recommended bill ought to pass with an amendment and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means with the amendment pending	Similar To
H542	Relative to campaign contribution limits for certain candidates running for office in a state election	Signed by the Governor, Chapter 156 of the Acts of 2016	Similar To
H75	To provide an income tax exemption for families caring for their elderly relatives at home	Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means	Similar To
S272	Relative to regional school district capital project funding	Accompanied a study order, see S2341	Similar To
S357	Promoting the development of small house nursing homes in Massachusetts	Accompanied a new draft, see H4155	Similar To
S497	Relative to providing health insurance coverage for cochlear and auditory osseointegrated implants in children	Accompanied a study order, see S2318	Similar To
S499	Protecting consumers from unsolicited loans	Accompanied a study order, see S2318	Similar To
S619	Relative to transfer of assets by MassHealth members	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Replaced by

Bill > H519

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

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