AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MEDICARE ENROLLMENT (Requires the EOHHS to disregard an individual’s assets or resources, when determining an individual’s eligibility for any Medicare beneficiary program, contingent on federal approval.)

H7631

2026 -- H 7631
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LC004349
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MEDICARE ENROLLMENT

Introduced By:
Representatives Alzate, Morales, Furtado, McGaw, Shanley, and Batista

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 36-12.2 of the General Laws entitled "Medicare Enrollment" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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36-12.2-2. Medicare eligibility.

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(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general or public law to the contrary, in
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determining eligibility for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare
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Beneficiary and Qualified Individual programs, described in 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E), also
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known as the Medicare Saving or Medicare Buy-In programs, the Rhode Island executive office of
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health and human services (EOHHS) shall disregard all assets or resources. Implementation of this
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subsection shall be contingent upon receiving federal approvals described in subsection (b) of this
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section.
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(b) Prior to implementing subsection (a) of this section, the EOHHS shall obtain all
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required federal approvals including, amending its state plan, as necessary, and shall promulgate
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regulations to implement this section.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004349
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MEDICARE ENROLLMENT
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This act would require the EOHHS to disregard an individual’s assets or resources, when
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determining an individual’s eligibility for any Medicare beneficiary program, contingent on federal
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approval.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004349
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