ASSURING COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Sec. 1931. [42 U.S.C. 1396u–1] (a) References to Title IV–A Are References to Pre–Welfare–Reform Provisions.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, with respect to a State any reference in this title (or any other provision of law in relation to the operation of this title) to a provision of part A of title IV, or a State plan under such part (or a provision of such a plan), including income and resource standards and income and resource methodologies under such part or plan, shall be considered a reference to such a provision or plan as in effect as of July 16, 1996, with respect to the State.
(b) Application of Pre–Welfare–Reform Eligibility Criteria.—
(1) In general.—For purposes of this title, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in determining eligibility for medical assistance—
(A) an individual shall be treated as receiving aid or assistance under a State plan approved under part A of title IV only if the individual meets—
(i) the income and resource standards for determining eligibility under such plan, and
(ii) the eligibility requirements of such plan under subsections (a) through (c) of section 406 and section 407(a),
as in effect as of July 16, 1996; and
(B) the income and resource methodologies under such plan as of such date shall be used in the determination of whether any individual meets income and resource standards under such plan.
(2) State option.—For purposes of applying this section, a State—
(A) may lower its income standards applicable with respect to part A of title IV, but not below the income standards applicable under its State plan under such part on May 1, 1988;
(B) may increase income or resource standards under the State plan referred to in paragraph (1) over a period (beginning after July 16, 1996) by a percentage that does not exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) over such period; and
(C) may use income and resource methodologies that are less restrictive than the methodologies used under the State plan under such part as of July 16, 1996.
(3) Option to terminate medical assistance for failure to meet work requirement.—
(A) Individuals receiving cash assistance under tanf.—In the case of an individual who—
(i) is receiving cash assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV,
(ii) is eligible for medical assistance under this title on a basis not related to section 1902(l), and
(iii) has the case assistance under such program terminated pursuant to section 407(e)(1)(B) (as in effect on or after the welfare reform effective date) because of refusing to work,
the State may terminate such individual’s eligibility for medical assistance under this title until such time as there no longer is a basis for the termination of such cash assistance because of such refusal.
(B) Exception for children.—Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as permitting a State to terminate medical assistance for a minor child who is not the head of a household receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV.
(c) Treatment for Purposes of Transitional Coverage Provisions.—
(1) Transition in the case of child support collections.—The provisions of section 406(h) (as in effect on July 16, 1996) shall apply, in relation to this title, with respect to individuals (and families composed of individuals) who are described in subsection (b)(1)(A), in the same manner as they applied before such date with respect to individuals who became ineligible for aid to families with dependent children as a result (wholly or partly) of the collection of child or spousal support under part D of title IV.
(2) Transition in the case of earnings from employment.—For continued medical assistance in the case of individuals (and families composed of individuals) described in subsection (b)(1)(A) who would otherwise become ineligible because of hours or income from employment, see sections 1925 and 1902(e)(1).
(d) Waivers.—In the case of a waiver of a provision of part A of title IV in effect with respect to a State as of July 16, 1996, or which is submitted to the Secretary before the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996[359] and approved by the Secretary on or before July 1, 1997, if the waiver affects eligibility of individuals for medical assistance under this title, such waiver may (but need not) continue to be applied, at the option of the State, in relation to this title after the date the waiver would otherwise expire.
(e) State Option To Use 1 Application Form.—Nothing in this section, or part A of title IV, shall be construed as preventing a State from providing for the same application form for assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV (on or after the welfare reform effective date) and for medical assistance under this title.
(f) Additional Rules of Construction.—
(1) With respect to the reference in section 1902(a)(5) to a State plan approved under part A of title IV, a State may treat such reference as a reference either to a State program funded under such part (as in effect on and after the welfare reform effective date) or to the State plan under this title.
(2) Any reference in section 1902(a)(55) to a State plan approved under part A of title IV shall be deemed a reference to a State program funded under such part.
(3) In applying section 1903(f), the applicable income limitation otherwise determined shall be subject to increase in the same manner as income or resource standards of a State may be increased under subsection (b)(2)(B).
(g) Relation to Other Provisions.—The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Act.
(h) Transitional Increased Federal Matching Rate for Increased Administrative Costs.—
(1) In general.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall provide that with respect to administrative expenditures described in paragraph (2) the per centum specified in section 1903(a)(7) shall be increased to such percentage as the Secretary specifies.
(2) Administrative expenditures described.—The administrative expenditures described in this paragraph are expenditures described in section 1903(a)(7) that a State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary are attributable to administrative costs of eligibility determinations that (but for the enactment of this section) would not be incurred.
(3) Limitation.—The total amount of additional Federal funds that are expended as a result of the application of this subsection for the period beginning with fiscal year 1997 shall not exceed $500,000,000. In applying this paragraph, the Secretary shall ensure the equitable distribution of additional funds among the States.
(i) Welfare Reform Effective Date.—In this section, the term “welfare reform date” means the effective date, with respect to a State, of title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (as specified in section 116 of such Act)[360].
[359] August 22, 1996 [P.L. 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105].
[360] See Vol. II, P.L. 104-193, §116.