HOUSE FILE 287

BY  HEATON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to eligibility requirements under the medical assistance program and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 249A.3, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  15.  In determining eligibility of an applicant for medical assistance, the department shall require verification of residency in the state. The department shall establish or continue cooperative arrangements with the United States social security administration, the secretary of state, the department of revenue, the department of workforce development, and any other appropriate entity to gain electronic access, to the extent allowed by law, to information available to those entities that may be appropriate for electronically verifying an applicant’s residency. The information provided shall be provided for no other purpose than to verify residency and the data requested shall be requested and provided only to the extent necessary to determine an applicant’s residency. A recipient of medical assistance shall be subject to verification of residency upon renewal of eligibility.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  16.  Unless required by federal law, an adult, with the exception of a pregnant woman, shall not be presumptively eligible for medical assistance.
   Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  249A.8A  Civil penalty —— residency requirement.
   In addition to any other penalties applicable, an applicant for medical assistance under this chapter who knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement or a misrepresentation of a material fact or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact regarding the applicant’s residency as required pursuant to section 249A.3, subsection 15, is subject to a civil penalty of two thousand dollars.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that in determining eligibility of an applicant for medical assistance (Medicaid), the department of human services (DHS) shall require verification of residency in the state. The bill directs DHS to establish or continue any cooperative arrangements with appropriate entities to gain electronic access to information available to the entities that may be appropriate for electronically verifying an applicant’s residency. The bill also provides that unless required by federal law, an adult, with the exception of a pregnant woman, shall not be presumptively eligible for Medicaid. The bill also provides that, in addition to any other penalties applicable, an applicant for Medicaid who knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement or a misrepresentation of a material fact or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact regarding the applicant’s residency is subject to a civil penalty of $2,000.