ABD Disability Standard Change

Senate and Final: Subject to SB 6573 (disability standard), the disability standard applied by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in making disability determinations for the Aged, Blind and Disabled program is reverted to the standard prior to Chapter 10, Laws of 2013, 2nd sp.s (SHB 2069). The 2013-15 enacted budget assumed that Presumptive SSI individuals currently eligible for 50 percent federal match would become eligible for 100 percent federal match under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid Expansion, reducing General Fund-State expenditures. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicated that the state is eligible for 75 percent federal match. The change in the disability standard will reduce the eligible pending SSI and ABD caseload and related General Fund-State expenditures.