This bill increases the amount of money that people in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities can keep for their personal use each month while receiving Medicaid benefits. Right now, individuals can keep $30 per month and couples can keep $60 per month for things like toiletries, clothing, entertainment, or other personal expenses. This bill would double those amounts to $60 for individuals and $120 for couples. Here's why this matters: when someone qualifies for Medicaid to help pay for nursing home care, the program looks at their income to figure out how much they should contribute toward their care costs. The personal needs allowance is the money they're allowed to keep before Medicaid calculates what they owe. By increasing this allowance, the bill gives people in care facilities more spending money for everyday personal items while still qualifying for Medicaid assistance with their care costs. This change would help residents maintain a bit more financial independence and dignity during their stay in long-term care facilities.

PNA Modernization Act

Wexton, Jennifer

Personal Needs Allowance Modernization Act or the PNA Modernization Act&nbsp;This bill increases the minimum monthly personal needs allowance under Medicaid for an institutionalized individual and couple from $30 to $60 and from $60 to $120, respectively. (The personal needs allowance is deducted from an individual's total income when determining the individual's contribution to the cost of institutionalized care under Medicaid.)