§ 1396u–1 — Assuring Coverage For Certain Low-income Families

(a) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, with respect to a State any reference in this subchapter (or any other provision of law in relation to the operation of this subchapter) to a provision of part A of subchapter IV, or a State plan under such part (or a provision of such a plan), including income and resource standards and income and resource methodologies under such part or plan, shall be considered a reference to such a provision or plan as in effect as of July 16, 1996, with respect to the State. (1) For purposes of this subchapter, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in determining eligibility for medical assistance— (A) an individual shall be treated as receiving aid or assistance under a State plan approved under part A of subchapter IV only if the individual meets— (i) the income and resource standards for determining eligibility under such plan, and (ii) the eligibility requirements of such plan under subsections (a) through (c) of section 606 of this title and section 607(a) of this title, (B) the income and resource methodologies under such plan as of such date shall be used in the determination of whether any individual meets income and resource standards under such plan. (2) For purposes of applying this section, a State— (A) may lower its income standards applicable with respect to part A of subchapter IV, but not below the income standards applicable under its State plan under such part on May 1, 1988; (B) may increase income or resource standards under the State plan referred to in paragraph (1) over a period (beginning after July 16, 1996) by a percentage that does not exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) over such period; and (C) may use income and resource methodologies that are less restrictive than the methodologies used under the State plan under such part as of July 16, 1996. (A) In the case of an individual who— (i) is receiving cash assistance under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV, (ii) is eligible for medical assistance under this subchapter on a basis not related to section 1396a(l) of this title, and (iii) has the cash assistance under such program terminated pursuant to section 607(e)(1)(B) of this title (as in effect on or after the welfare reform effective date) because of refusing to work, (B) Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as permitting a State to terminate medical assistance for a minor child who is not the head of a household receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV. (1) The provisions of section 606(h) of this title (as in effect on July 16, 1996) shall apply, in relation to this subchapter, with respect to individuals (and families composed of individuals) who are described in subsection (b)(1)(A), in the same manner as they applied before such date with respect to individuals who became ineligible for aid to families with dependent children as a result (wholly or partly) of the collection of child or spousal support under part D of subchapter IV. (2) For continued medical assistance in the case of individuals (and families composed of individuals) described in subsection (b)(1)(A) who would otherwise become ineligible because of hours or income from employment, see sections 1396r–6 and 1396a(e)(1) of this title. (d) In the case of a waiver of a provision of part A of subchapter IV in effect with respect to a State as of July 16, 1996, or which is submitted to the Secretary before August 22, 1996, and approved by the Secretary on or before July 1, 1997, if the waiver affects eligibility of individuals for medical assistance under this subchapter, such waiver may (but need not) continue to be applied, at the option of the State, in relation to this subchapter after the date the waiver would otherwise expire. (e) Nothing in this section, or part A of subchapter IV, shall be construed as preventing a State from providing for the same application form for assistance under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV (on or after the welfare reform effective date) and for medical assistance under this subchapter. (1) With respect to the reference in section 1396a(a)(5) of this title to a State plan approved under part A of subchapter IV, a State may treat such reference as a reference either to a State program funded under such part (as in effect on and after the welfare reform effective date) or to the State plan under this subchapter. (2) Any reference in section 1396a(a)(55) of this title to a State plan approved under part A of subchapter IV shall be deemed a reference to a State program funded under such part. (3) In applying section 1396b(f) of this title, the applicable income limitation otherwise determined shall be subject to increase in the same manner as income or resource standards of a State may be increased under subsection (b)(2)(B). (g) The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter. (1) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall provide that with respect to administrative expenditures described in paragraph (2) the per centum specified in section 1396b(a)(7) of this title shall be increased to such percentage as the Secretary specifies. (2) The administrative expenditures described in this paragraph are expenditures described in section 1396b(a)(7) of this title that a State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary are attributable to administrative costs of eligibility determinations that (but for the enactment of this section) would not be incurred. (3) The total amount of additional Federal funds that are expended as a result of the application of this subsection for the period beginning with fiscal year 1997 shall not exceed $500,000,000. In applying this paragraph, the Secretary shall ensure the equitable distribution of additional funds among the States. (i) In this section, the term “welfare reform effective date” means the effective date, with respect to a State, of title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (as specified in section 116 of such Act).