HF 258 (LSB 2251YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 258

BY  HEATON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to required asset, income, and identity verification for the Medicaid program, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  MEDICAID PROGRAM —— ASSET, INCOME, AND IDENTITY VERIFICATION.  The department of human services shall issue a request for proposals to contract with a third-party vendor to establish an electronic asset, income, and identity eligibility verification system for the purposes of determining or redetermining the eligibility of an individual who is an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance under the Medicaid state plan on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled in accordance with 42 U.S.C. §1396w. The third-party vendor selected shall be able to demonstrate in writing its current relationships or contracts with financial institutions in the state and nationally. Participation by financial institutions in providing account balances for asset verification shall remain voluntary. The department of human services shall submit a progress report, by September 1, 2017, to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human services, the legislative services agency, and the legislative caucus staffs.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of human services (DHS) to issue a request for proposals to contract with a third-party vendor to establish an electronic asset, income, and identity eligibility verification system to determine or redetermine the eligibility of an individual who is an applicant for or recipient of Medicaid on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled. The third-party vendor selected shall be able to demonstrate in writing its current relationships or contracts with financial institutions in the state and nationally. Participation by financial institutions in providing account balances for asset verification shall remain voluntary. DHS is required to submit a progress report, by September 1, 2017, to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human services, the legislative services agency, and the legislative caucus staffs.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.