HF2716: Public Assistance Reform (House Version)

Requires quarterly and annual reporting for SNAP and Medicaid payment error rates, requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to request federal waivers for certain SNAP administrative rules, and expands Medicaid eligibility for employed persons with disabilities. The bill increases the Medicaid income threshold, introduces electronic premium payments, and sets new rules for asset disregards. It also institutes residency verification for public assistance applicants, mandates use of federal verification systems for citizenship and immigration status, and applies new cost-sharing and fee rules to the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. The Department must ensure cost-neutrality for Medicaid waivers unless legislatively approved. Additional provisions include restricting WIC participation to citizens and qualified aliens, authorizing provider no-show fees, and establishing new reporting on public assistance fraud and high-acuity pediatric care needs.

Key Points & Impacts:

• Requires quarterly error rate reporting for SNAP and Medicaid, and an annual report on Medicaid waivers (exceptions to policy).

• Directs HHS to seek federal waivers for SNAP to exclude certain student income, automate verification, allow quicker benefit expungement, alter error reporting, and simplify application requirements.

• Raises Medicaid eligibility for employed persons with disabilities from 250% to 300% FPL and allows electronic premium payments; disregards pension accounts as assets.

• Mandates HHS to verify 12 months of residency for certain public assistance applicants, with exceptions for Social Security beneficiaries.

• Requires immigration and citizenship checks using the federal SAVE system for public assistance eligibility determinations.

• Establishes new cost-sharing and copayment rules for Iowa Health and Wellness Plan members, including fees for noncompliance with wellness activities and nonattendance at appointments.

• Mandates cost-neutrality analysis for Medicaid waivers; non-neutral waivers require legislative approval before federal submission.

• Restricts WIC participation to citizens/qualified aliens, allows no-show fees for health providers, and sets new reporting on fraud and high-acuity pediatric home health needs.