Authorizes the secretary of the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to increase resource eligibility limits for persons with long-term care needs who reside at home to $12,000 for single persons and $18,000 for couples.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would allow the head of Rhode Island's health and human services agency to raise the amount of money and assets a person can have while still qualifying for Medicaid-funded long-term care services at home. Currently, there are lower financial limits that people must fall under to receive this assistance. If passed, single individuals could have up to $12,000 in resources (such as savings) and married couples could have up to $18,000 while still being eligible for help.

The bill specifically applies to Rhode Islanders who need long-term care — such as help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or managing medications — but who live at home rather than in a nursing facility. These are often elderly individuals or people with disabilities who want to remain in their own homes while receiving care. Right now, strict asset limits can disqualify people from receiving assistance even if they have very modest savings, potentially forcing them to spend down nearly all of their money before they can get help.

By raising these limits, the bill would make it easier for more low-income Rhode Islanders with long-term care needs to qualify for home-based Medicaid services without having to deplete their savings entirely first. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Finance Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.