HHS Approves Washington State Program Allowing Medicaid Beneficiaries With Disabilities to Keep Coverage After Returning to Work

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on June 20 announced the approval of a Washington state program to allow people with disabilities to retain Medicaid coverage after returning to work. Under the program, Medicaid benefits will be available to all disabled people ages 18 to 64 with annual incomes up to 220% of the federal poverty level, or $19,492 for an individual. State officials say they expect about 400 people to qualify for the program during the first year and about 1,100 by Sept. 30, 2003. To implement the program, the state has received $1,125,000 in grants from CMS under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. "Now, hundreds of Washington state residents will be able to return to work without fear of losing access to medical care for a serious disabling condition," Thompson said (HHS release, 6/20).