Ask your legislator to Co-sponsor the MAPP Reform & Sustainability bill (LRB 2576/1)!
Rep. Andre Jacque is circulating a bill (LRB 2576) to improve work incentives and supports needed to maintain employment for people with disabilities. The reforms proposed to Medicaid Assistance Purchase Plan (MAPP) program will improve the work incentive program, enabling people with disabilities to pursue jobs and careers without jeopardizing access to health and long term care they need to work.
Contact your legislator and ask them to co-sponsor the MAPP bill (LRB 2576).Your legislator can add their name in support of the bill through the close of businessSeptember 29th.
You can find out who your State Senator and State Representative is by typing in your address under the Find My Legislator section onhttp://legis.wisconsin.gov/
Many people with disabilities rely on Medicaid-funded supportsmental health services, personal care, etc.that are not available in the private sector market or are not available at the levels necessary or at an affordable price. Strict Medicaid asset and income limits are often cited by people with disabilities as a Catch 22they want to work and progress in a career, but employment success and reaching earning potential may jeopardize the Medicaid services they need to work and that arent available outside Medicaid.
This bill proposes the following reforms to the program
- Determines eligibility on the basis of the individual participants income and assets, incentivizing workforce participation.
- Recognizes out-of-pocket medical and remedial expenses and long term care costs as deductible expenses when calculating an individuals net income. Long Term Care supportslike personal care and transportationare critical to make it possible for people with disabilities to work.
- Changes the premium calculation formula for those above 150% FPL, resulting in reasonable premiums that gradually increase with overall income. The current formula creates a disincentive to work because income results in unfair and unaffordable high premiums, sometimes well over $1,000 a month, for many individuals.
- Institutes a minimum $25 premium for all participants who are under 150% of the federal poverty level, establishing a fairer premium structure for all.
- Allows DHS to maintain MAPP eligibility for working people with disabilities earning more than 250% FPL as long as earnings are not sufficient to pay for all costs currently being supported through public benefit programs. Currently, the income/asset threshold causes MAPP participants to limit their earnings in order to maintain eligibility for the MAPP program.
- Gives participants the ability to contribute to their independence/retirement accounts without risking the loss of eligibility in other Medicaid programs once they can no longer work or they retire.
***Thanks to the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities for providing us with this information.
