House File 17HOUSE FILE BY HUSER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the annual adjustment of the personal needs 2 allowance for residents of certain facilities. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1542HH 82 5 pf/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 249A.30A, Code 2007, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 249A.30A MEDICAL ASSISTANCE == PERSONAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE == 1 4 COST OF LIVING INDEX. 1 5 The personal needs allowance under the medical assistance 1 6 program, which may be retained by a resident of a nursing 1 7 facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with 1 8 mental retardation, or an intermediate care facility for 1 9 persons with mental illness, as defined in section 135C.1, or 1 10 who is a resident of a psychiatric medical institution for 1 11 children as defined in section 135H.1, shall be fifty dollars 1 12 per month. However, beginning January 1, 2008, and each 1 13 subsequent January 1, the personal needs allowance shall be 1 14 increased in an amount which is based upon the most recent 1 15 cost of living adjustment announced by the United States 1 16 social security administration for the purpose of determining 1 17 social security benefits. 1 18 EXPLANATION 1 19 This bill provides that the personal needs allowance under 1 20 the medical assistance program, which may be retained by a 1 21 resident of a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility 1 22 for persons with mental retardation, an intermediate care 1 23 facility for persons with mental illness, or a resident of a 1 24 psychiatric medical institution for children, is $50 and is to 1 25 be increased annually on January 1, in an amount which is 1 26 based upon the most recent cost of living adjustment announced 1 27 by the federal social security administration for the purpose 1 28 of determining social security benefits. 1 29 LSB 1542HH 82 1 30 pf:rj/je/5