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House debate on HB037 focuses on easing Medicaid ‘spend down’ for aged, blind and disabled
Summary
Representative Rebecca Lockhart introduced First Substitute HB037 to restructure Medicaid spend‑down rules for the aged, blind and disabled, setting eligibility at 100% of the federal poverty level and reducing the amount beneficiaries must "spend down." Sponsors cited a 3:1 federal match and personal cases of hardship; the bill had unanimous committee support (8–0–2).
Representative Rebecca Lockhart outlined First Substitute House Bill 37 on the House floor, saying the measure would put into statute an eligibility level for the aged, blind and disabled at 100% of the federal poverty level and reform the Medicaid "spend down" calculation so affected individuals retain significantly more of their monthly income.
Lockhart described an illustrative case in which an individual receiving SSDI of $748 a month would under current rules be left with $398 after spending down; under the sponsor’s proposal that person…
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