PETITION OF:

Robert Correia

Joyce A. Spiliotis

Stephen R. Canessa

James B. Eldridge

Steven J. D'Amico

Ruth B. Balser

James M. Murphy

Tom Sannicandro

Denise Provost

Richard J. Ross

Barbara A. L'Italien

Martin J. Walsh

William N. Brownsberger

John W. Scibak

Douglas W. Petersen

Thomas J. Calter

Martha M. Walz

John V. Fernandes

David M. Torrisi

Anne M. Gobi

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

Christine E. Canavan

Joseph R. Driscoll

Jennifer M. Callahan

Bruce J. Ayers

Michael E. Festa

Theodore C. Speliotis

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to increase the personal care allowance for residents of long term care facilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
Any person eligible for assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is receiving care in or residing in a licensed nursing facility, licensed chronic hospital, licensed rest home, or an approved public medical institution as defined in section 8 of chapter 118E, shall retain the first $72.80 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $72.80, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118A of General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 7A the following new section:—
Section 7B. Any person eligible for financial assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is in a licensed medical facility which is eligible for medical assistance payments pursuant to chapter 118E or is residing in a licensed rest home to which such person pays a fixed rate, shall retain the first $72.80 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $72.80, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 15 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
A person eligible for medical assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his own home and is receiving care in a licensed nursing facility, a licensed chronic hospital, a licensed rest home, an approved public medical institution, or a public psychiatric institution shall retain the first $72.80 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $72.80, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who is maintaining his own home and who is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.