LD 34
pg. 1
LD 34 Title Page An Act to Increase the Eligibility for the Elderly Low-cost Drug Program LD 34 Title Page
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LR 385
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. KKK,
§1 and affected by §10 and c. 531, Pt. F, §2, is further amended
to read:

 
2. Income eligibility. Income eligibility of individuals
must be determined by this subsection and by reference to the
federal nonfarm income official poverty level, as defined by the
federal Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in
accordance with the United States Omnibus Budget and
Reconciliation Act of 1981, Section 673, Subsection 2. If the
household income, as defined in subsection 9, is less than 185%
225% of the federal poverty line applicable to the household, the
individual is eligible for the basic and the supplemental
program. Individuals are also eligible for the basic program and
the supplemental program if the household spends at least 40% 30%
of its income on unreimbursed direct medical expenses for
prescription drugs and medications and the household income is
not more than 25% higher than the levels specified in this
subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, the cost of
drugs provided to a household under this section is considered a
cost incurred by the household for eligibility determination
purposes;

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill increases eligibility for the elderly low-cost drug
program by increasing the income level from 185% to 225% of the
nonfarm income official poverty level. This will increase the
monetary level, in 2000 figures, from $20,820 to $25,326 for a
family of 2 persons. This bill also increases eligibility by
decreasing from 40% of income to 30% of income the amount of high
medical expenses that increases the income eligibility level by
25%.


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