SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2206

with Senate committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 23, 1997

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2206 with amendments.

      Senate Bill No. 2206, as amended, appropriates $9 million in State funds and $9 million in federal funds to enable the Department of Health and Senior Services to increase the amount of monthly income the community spouse of an institutionalized person is allowed to retain under the spousal impoverishment provisions of the “Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988,” Pub.L.100-360.

      The amount of income the community spouse would be allowed to retain would increase from the current $1,295 per month to $1,800 per month

      It is the intent and understanding of this committee that after the funds appropriated by this bill are utilized to allow for an increase in monthly income as described above, funds remaining from this appropriation that are not required for that purpose will be used by the department to provide for an increase, to the extent possible, in the amount of resources a community spouse would be allowed to retain from the current $15,804 or one half of resources up to $79,020 (whichever is greater), to $79,020.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to make technical changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill appropriates $9 million in State funds and $9 million in federal funds to enable the Department of Health and Senior Services to increase the amount of monthly income and the amount of resources the community spouse of an institutionalized person is allowed to retain under the spousal impoverishment provisions of the “Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988,” Pub.L.100-360.