Jul. 06, 2021

HARRISBURG – To ensure Pennsylvanians with disabilities won’t become ineligible for a valuable medical assistance program because they make too much money, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law the companion bill to Rep. Kate Klunk’s (R-Hanover) House Bill 1115.

Act 69 of 2021, formerly known as Senate Bill 156 by Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Bucks/Berks/Montgomery), also known as Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD), allows individuals with disabilities to increase earnings under a new category of MAWD, called Workers with Job Success (WJS).

“I want to thank Sen. Mensch for his leadership in getting this legislation signed into law,” Klunk said. “My bill was inspired by a man I met who suffered a debilitating medical condition that requires continued care. When he returned to work, he found he would make too much money to qualify for the needed medical services covered by MAWD. Instead of returning to the position he loved, he opted to take a position that pays less in order to continue to contribute while also receiving much-needed services.”

Under MAWD, individuals with disabilities can earn approximately $61,000 annually before they would be shut off from important health services. These individuals pay in about 5% of their income to receive this service.

Anything earned over the cap will move contributions into a new category instead of eliminating participant eligibility. Specifically, the law creates a new section that requires a worker with job success to pay 7.5% of a worker’s compensation for medical assistance health insurance coverage. Additionally, workers who make more than $75,000 annually, would pay 100% of the average cost for medical assistance coverage.

Representative Kate A. Klunk
169th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Greg Gross
RepKlunk.com / Facebook.com/RepKlunk