Sec. HH-1. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. KKK, §1 and affected by §10 and c. 531, Pt. F, §2, is amended to read:
A. The basic component of the program must provide drugs and medications for cardiac conditions and high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, incontinence, thyroid diseases, glaucoma, parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The basic component must also provide over-the-counter medications that are prescribed by a health care provider and approved as cost-effective by the department.
Sec. HH-2. 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 F, §2, is repealed.
Sec. HH-3. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. Income eligibility. Individuals are eligible for this program if the household income, as defined in subsection 9, is not more than the amount set by this subsection. In calculating income eligibility, the cost of drugs provided to a household under this section is considered a cost incurred by the household. The income eligibility limit is determined as follows:
A. Calculate the applicable poverty level by reference to 185% of the federal nonfarm income official poverty level, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, that was in effect on January 1, 2001;
B. Calculate the income eligibility limit for calendar year 2001 by multiplying the poverty level figure from paragraph A by the result of one plus the annualized cost-of-living adjustment used to determine Social Security retirement benefits issued during calendar year 2001;
C. For each program year after 2001, calculate the income eligibility limit for the year for which relief is requested by multiplying the income eligibility limit for the previous program year as calculated by paragraph B by one plus the annualized cost-of-living adjustment applicable to Social Security retirement benefits issued during the year for which relief is requested; and
D. For individuals in households that spend at least 40% of income on unreimbursed direct medical expenses for prescription medications, the income eligibility limit is increased by 25%.
Sec. HH-4. Effective date. This Part takes effect November 1, 2001, except that that portion of this Part that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 254, subsection 2-A takes effect January 1, 2002 and applies to calendar year 2002 and succeeding years.
| Revisor of Statutes Homepage | Subject Index | Search | Laws of Maine | Maine Legislature |
