IM-69 June 27, 2005, IM-70 July 29, 2004, IM-114 August 22, 2003, IM-119 September 20, 2002
The legal basis for the administration of this program and the determination of eligibility of individuals for the program is set forth in Section 208.010, Eligibility for Public Assistance–Means Test:
In determining the eligibility of a claimant for public assistance under this law, it shall be the duty of the division of welfare to consider and take into account all facts and circumstances surrounding the claimant, including his living conditions, earning capacity, income and resources, from whatever source received, and if from all the facts and circumstances the claimant is not found to be in need, assistance shall be denied . . .
The legal basis for the administration of the Medical Assistance Program is contained in Section 208.151 through Section 208.215 RSMo.
Senate Bill-4, passed in the 2001 Special Legislative Session, revised Section 208.151(25) to authorize increasing Medical Assistance non-spend down income limit from SSI maximum payment level to 80% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) in State Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, 90% of the FPL in FY04, and 100% of the FPL in FY05. Effective October 1, 2002, Medical Assistance non-spend down income limit was raised to 80% of the FPL for single individuals (for a married couple the SSI maximum payment level exceeded 80% of the FPL). Effective October 1, 2003 the non-spend down income limit was raised to 90% of the FPL for both single and couple cases. On July 29, 2004 the income limit was raised to 100% of the FPL effective July 1, 2004.
Senate Bill 539 (2005) changed the Medical Assistance (MA) non-spend down income limit for eligibility determinations based on old age assistance (OAA) and permanent and total disability (PTD) criteria effective August 28, 2005. There is no change in the income limit for determinations based on Aid to the Blind (AB) criteria. SB 539 also moved in the authority MA based on OAA, PTD, and AB criteria from subdivision (25) of RSMo. Section 208.151.1 to subdivision (24). The statute now sets the non-spend down income limit for determinations based on OAA or PTD at the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment maximum, unless a higher limit is authorized by annual appropriations. House Bill 11 (2005) appropriated funds to set the income limit at 85% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).