House Bill 977 Summary

• Establishes basic eligibility requirements for MO HealthNet including Missouri residency, valid Social Security number, U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status, and pregnancy verification when applicable, effective January 1, 2014.

• Requires annual eligibility reviews of all MO HealthNet participants and mandates applicants provide all required information and documentation per federal regulations (42 CFR Section 435.907).

• Expands eligibility to include pregnant women, children under age 19, CHIP-eligible children, uninsured women, and individuals age 19-64 with household income at or below 100% of federal poverty level who are not otherwise covered by mandatory Medicaid.

• Establishes alternative minimum benefits package for non-medically frail adults ages 19-64 earning at or below federal poverty level, while medically frail individuals receive full coverage under standard benefits.

• Requires the Department of Social Services to establish income eligibility standards based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and create a screening process with the Department of Mental Health to identify medically frail individuals.