Medi-Cal: income level for maintenance.
Under existing law, certain medically needy persons with higher incomes qualify for Medi-Cal with a share of cost, if they meet specified criteria. Under existing law, the share of cost for those persons is generally the total after deducting an amount for maintenance from the person’s monthly income. Existing law requires the department to establish income levels for maintenance at the lowest levels that reasonably permit a medically needy person to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter, and for which federal financial participation will still be provided under applicable federal law. Under existing law, for a single individual, the amount of the income level for maintenance per month is based on a calculation of 80% of the highest amount that would ordinarily be paid to a family of 2 persons, without any income or resources, under specified cash assistance provisions, multiplied by the federal financial participation rate, adjusted as specified.

This bill, to the extent that any necessary federal authorization is obtained, would increase the above-described income level for maintenance per month to be equal to the income limit for Medi-Cal without a share of cost for individuals who are 65 years of age or older or are disabled, generally totaling 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary federal authorization for maintaining that income level for maintenance and would make conforming changes to related provisions.