2022 -- S 2896 AS AMENDED | |
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LC005722 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HEALTH | |
BENEFIT EXCHANGE | |
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Introduced By: Senators Miller, Goodwin, Kallman, DiPalma, Valverde, Lawson, and | |
Date Introduced: April 26, 2022 | |
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 42-157 of the General Laws, entitled “Rhode Island Health Benefit |
2 | Exchange”, is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 42-157-15. COVID-19 premium payment program. |
4 | (a) Establishment of premium payment program. The exchange may utilize funds |
5 | appropriated by the general assembly to the exchange to pay up to sixty (60) days of health |
6 | insurance premiums for an individual who meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (b) |
7 | of this section and enrolls in a qualified health plan through the exchange during the individual’s |
8 | sixty (60) day special enrollment period specified in subsection (b)(2) of this section. |
9 | (b) Eligibility. An individual is eligible for the premium payment program under subsection |
10 | (a) of this section if the exchange determines the individual: |
11 | (1) Was disenrolled from Medicaid upon the end of the COVID-19 public health |
12 | emergency or the end of the continuous coverage requirement established under Section 6008(b)(3) |
13 | of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), whichever occurs first; |
14 | (2) Is eligible for a special enrollment period under 45 C.F.R. § 155.420(d)(1) as a result |
15 | of being disenrolled from Medicaid; and |
16 | (3) Is eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit under 45 C.F.R. § |
17 | 155.305(f). |
18 | (c) Premium payments applied after advance payments of the premium tax credit. The |
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1 | exchange shall limit premium payment under subsection (a) of this section to the portion of the |
2 | premium owed after advance payments of the premium tax credit have been applied. If an |
3 | individual elects to accept less than the full amount of advance payments of the premium tax credit |
4 | for which the individual is determined eligible under 45 C.F.R. § 155.310(d)(2), the exchange will |
5 | not utilize funds under subsection (a) of this section to pay that portion of the premium. |
6 | (d) Duration of program. The premium payment program established by subsection (a) of |
7 | this section shall be available to eligible individuals for up to twelve (12) months after the month |
8 | in which the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, consistent with the state health official letter |
9 | issued by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services on August 13, 2021. If the Centers for |
10 | Medicaid and Medicare Services extends the timeframe beyond twelve (12) months, the exchange |
11 | may make this premium payment program available to eligible individuals during the extended |
12 | period. |
13 | (e) Availability of funds. Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section, |
14 | the exchange may uniformly restrict, terminate, or otherwise reduce eligibility for the premium |
15 | payment program under subsection (a) of this section at any time in the case of limited funding |
16 | availability. |
17 | (f) Appeals. Any person aggrieved by the exchange’s determination of eligibility for |
18 | premium payment under this section has the right to an appeal in accordance with the procedures |
19 | contained within chapter 35 of title 42. |
20 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC005722 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HEALTH | |
BENEFIT EXCHANGE | |
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1 | This act would establish a premium payment program to help individuals and families |
2 | transition from expired COVID-19 Medicaid coverage to commercial health insurance, thereby |
3 | avoiding a gap in medical coverage. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC005722 | |
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