ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 260

15-124.

(a) (1) The Department shall maintain a Maryland Pharmacy Assistance
Program for low income individuals whose:

(i) Assets are not more than 1.5 times the amount of accountable
resources according to the asset schedule of the Maryland Medical Assistance
Program; and

(ii) Gross annual income does not exceed:

1. $4,600 plus $500 for each individual over 1 in a family
unit; and

2. An annual increase set by the Secretary under paragraph
(2)(ii)4 of this subsection.

(2) (i) 1. In this paragraph the following words have the meanings
indicated.

2. "Income disregard" means the exclusion of up to $1,000 of
annual income earned by an individual as a client of a sheltered workshop if the
individuals sole other income is derived from a Social Security payment.

3. "Sheltered workshop" means a workshop licensed by the
Developmental Disabilities Administration under Title 7, Subtitle 9 of this article.

(ii) For the purpose of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the
Secretary shall:

1. In order to determine eligibility for the Maryland
Pharmacy Assistance Program, deduct any income disregards from the countable
gross income of a unit that contains a disabled individual;

2. Define excluded assets;

3. Establish a family unit structure; and

4. Beginning July 1, 1985, increase annually at the time
Social Security benefits are increased, rounded to the next highest even $50 level, the
income level within which an individual is eligible for benefits under the Maryland
Pharmacy Assistance Program by the larger of:

A. The percentage by which benefits under Title II of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401-433) arc increased by the federal government due
to cost of living changes as that percentage is reported in the Federal Register
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 415(I)(2)(D) but not to exceed 8 percent; or

B. The dollar amount by which the medical assistance income
schedules are increased by the State.

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