(a) The commissioner shall impose cost-sharing requirements, including the payment of a premium or copayment, in connection with services provided under HUSKY B, to the extent permitted by federal law. Copayments under HUSKY B shall not exceed those in effect for active state employees enrolled in a point-of-enrollment health care plan, provided the household’s annual combined premiums and copayments do not exceed the maximum annual aggregate cost-sharing requirement. The cost-sharing requirements imposed by the commissioner shall be in accordance with the following limitations:

(1) The commissioner may increase the maximum annual aggregate cost-sharing requirements, provided such cost-sharing requirements shall not exceed five per cent of the household’s gross annual income.

(2) In accordance with federal law, the commissioner may impose a premium requirement on households whose income exceeds two hundred forty-nine per cent of the federal poverty level as a component of the household’s cost-sharing responsibility and, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, to June 30, 2016, inclusive, may annually increase the premium requirement based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for medical care services; and

(3) The commissioner shall monitor copayments and premiums under the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the commissioner may impose limitations on the amount, duration and scope of benefits under HUSKY B.

(2) The limitations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not preclude coverage of any item of durable medical equipment or service that is medically necessary.