Page 376

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 376 of 739

(1) "Institutionalized spouse" has the same meaning as provided in 42 USC 1396r-5(h)(1); (2) "Community spouse" has the same meaning as provided in 42 USC 1396r-5(h)(2); and (3) "Minimum community spouse resource allowance" means the minimum amount of assets a community spouse of an institutionalized spouse may keep pursuant to 42 USC 1396r-5(f)(2). (b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall amend the Medicaid state plan in accordance with federal law to set the minimum community spouse resource allowance at fifty thousand dollars. (c) Not later than July 1, 2023, the commissioner shall report on the impact of increasing the minimum community spouse resource allowance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Such report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The number of community spouses who were able to keep additional assets as a result of the increase in the minimum community spouse resource allowance pursuant to subsection (b) of this section; and (2) the cost to the state of increasing said amount. (d) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section. Sec. 236. Section 17b-104 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer the program