71-5-147 - Personal needs allowance Protecting nursing home residents from diversion of allowance. - Tennessee Statutes

71-5-147. Personal needs allowance Protecting nursing home residents from diversion of allowance.

(a)  In determining the amount of an eligible individual's income available for the cost of long-term nursing home care authorized under this part on or after January 1, 2010, a deduction shall be made from the person's total income in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) per month to be treated as a personal needs allowance within the meaning of applicable federal regulations.

(b)  (1)  The department of health is directed to review, and revise as necessary, recommendations previously developed to protect nursing home residents from vendors and others who would seek to provide inappropriate or unneeded goods and services, or otherwise divert personal needs allowance funds for uses other than those meeting residents' personal needs.

     (2)  The recommendations shall be provided to the general welfare, health and human resources committee of the senate and to the health and human resources committee of the house of representatives not later than the second Tuesday in January, 2010.

[Acts 2004, ch. 851, §§ 1, 2; 2009, ch. 592, § 1.]