Section 71-5-704 - Program establishment(a) On or before January 1, 2025, the bureau shall establish a buy-in program for working individuals with disabilities that enables such individuals to access health insurance coverage through the medical assistance program, including as a supplement to employer-sponsored coverage.(b) In establishing the buy-in program, the bureau:(1) Shall establish cost-sharing requirements for the buy-in program in accordance with federal law and this part;(2) Shall establish and modify eligibility and cost-sharing requirements in order to administer the program within available funds;(3) Shall not establish eligibility restrictions for the buy-in program based upon a person's income, resources, or maximum age;(4) May consider, when applicable, a person's income, excluding spousal income or assets, when establishing cost-sharing requirements;(5) Shall include a grace period that provides continuous coverage for an individual who experiences a temporary interruption of employment; and(6) Shall make every effort to coordinate benefits with employer-sponsored coverage available to the working individuals with disabilities receiving benefits under this chapter or other applicable law.(c) In establishing the buy-in program for working individuals with disabilities pursuant to this part, and in order to serve a new and needy population with distinct financial or healthcare needs in accordance with § 71-5-163(a)(8), the bureau shall, to the extent permitted by federal law, utilize savings realized from the TennCare block grant funding agreement entered into with the federal government pursuant to § 71-5-163.(d) The bureau shall seek federal approval to exclude resources accumulated in a separate account that result from earnings during an individual's enrollment in the buy-in program, including IRS-approved retirement accounts, when determining the individual's subsequent eligibility for another medical assistance program.(e) The director is authorized to seek any federal waiver the director deems necessary to effectuate this part.Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1002,s 1, eff. 5/21/2024.