To provide assisted living assistance through Medicaid and low-income housing tax credit.

Medicaid Coverage for Assisted Living: Under Section 1, the bill expands Medicaid to include services in assisted living residences for individuals who would otherwise require a hospital or nursing facility, provided they meet state income requirements and the costs are comparable to those in a hospital or nursing facility. This could provide financial assistance to those needing care in a non-institutional setting.

Housing Tax Credit Incentives: Under Section 2, the bill amends the selection criteria for the low-income housing tax credit to include projects that provide services and supports in non-institutional settings to reduce medical assistance costs for the elderly. This may encourage the development of housing that supports the elderly outside of traditional institutions.

Cost Constraints on Medicaid Coverage: Under Section 1(a)(32), the new Medicaid coverage for assisted living is contingent upon the estimated annual average per capita total Medicaid cost being no greater than the cost that would have been incurred in a hospital or nursing facility. This could limit coverage if the cost of assisted living services exceeds those of a hospital or nursing facility.

Dependency on State Law and Legislation: Under Section 1(c), the implementation of these changes may be delayed if a State requires specific legislation to meet the new requirements. This could result in a delay in when individuals can actually access these updated benefits depending on their state's legislative schedule.