HF 2159 – Medicaid Miller Trusts Income Limit Increase
FLOOR ACTION:
HF 2159 is designed to help Iowans who currently go to extremes to afford long-term care services because their incomes are just above the private pay nursing home cost. The bill helps by increasing the percentage of income from 100 percent to 125 percent that a person can have relative to the statewide average charge for a private pay resident of a nursing facility for determining Medicaid eligibility. The bill allows more Iowans to use Miller Trusts (also known as “Medical Assistance Income Trusts”), which help those who have incomes that are higher than the Medicaid eligibility rate but lower than the cost of nursing care. Assets and income are moved into the trust and are not considered in the determination of Medicaid eligibility. When the Medicaid member dies, any assets remaining in the Trust are paid to Medicaid for services provided. Funds in excess of the Medicaid liability remain with the estate. A portion of the income deposited in the Trust may be diverted to support a spouse living in the community, personal allowances and the trustee fee. [3/24: 45-0 (Greiner, Houser, Kapucian, Segebart, Zumbach excused)]