Comparison of major provisions of selected bills on spousal impoverishment under medicaid

Concern has been expressed about the impact various Medicaid rules have on married couples when one member of the couple requires long-term nursing home care and the other spouse remains in the community. A number of bills have been introduced in the 100th Congress to address the impoverishment an elderly spouse in the community may experience as a result of Medicaid rules, when the other spouse becomes eligible for Medicaid as a nursing home patient. This paper compares the provisions of three so-called "spousal impoverishment" bills.,Richard J. Price, Specialist in Social Legislation, Education and Public Welfare Division,CRS 87-399,"May 1, 1987.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3