SB 1053 - This act provides that the Department of Social Services shall, in conjunction with the Department of Insurance, coordinate a long-term care insurance program whereby private insurance and Medicaid funds shall be used to finance long-term care. Under such a program, an individual may purchase a precertified long-term care insurance policy that meets certain criteria in an amount commensurate with such individual's assets. The resources of such individual, to the extent such resources are equal to the amount of long-term care insurance benefit payments, shall not be considered by the Department of Social Services in a determination of:
-eligibility for Medicaid for those entering long-term care facilities;
-the amount of any Medicaid payment, or
-any subsequent recovery by the state of a payment for medical services.
The Department of Social Services shall count insurance benefit payments toward resource exclusion to the extent such payments are:
-for services Medicaid approves or covers for its recipients;
-for the lesser of the actual charge and the amount paid by the insurance company;
-for nursing facility care or formal services; and
-for services received prior to and following the first month of Medicaid eligibility for long-term care services as established by the Department of Social Services.
The director of the Department of Insurance, in conjunction with the director of the Department of Social Services, shall submit a report on the progress of the long-term care insurance program to the legislature on September 1, 2007, and on January 1 each year thereafter.
This act repeals Sections 660.546 to 660.557, RSMo, relating to a similar long-term care partnership program but that was never approved by federal law.
This act has a six-year sunset provision.
ADRIANE CROUSE