Chapter 603

2006 -- H 7264 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/14/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Slater, Ajello, Handy, and Moran

Date Introduced: February 15, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40-8.4-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-8.4 entitled "Health

Care For Families" is hereby amended to read as follows:

40-8.4-6. Administration. -- The department of human services shall assure that

eligibility and enrollment is determined and provided in a timely, efficient and user friendly

manner, including mail-in applications. The department may enter into any necessary cooperative

agreements with the department of health and/or other state agencies to achieve the purposes of

this section. Children and families applying for cash assistance through the family independence

program, section 40-5.1-1 et seq., shall not be required to complete a separate application for

medical assistance under this chapter.

By December 1, 2006, the department shall provide to the chair of the senate health and

human services committee, the chair of the house health, education and welfare committee and to

the chairs of the house and senate finance committees a report describing a process for renewing

eligibility for the RIte care program by using an "ex-parte" process whereby the department uses

information provided to the department from the recipients' cash assistance, food stamp, and/or

child care assistance records and from other reliable sources that are readily available to the

department. The report shall include at a minimum: how the ex-parte renewal process will work;

the date by which the process could be implemented; the number and types of cases to which the

ex-parte renewal process is anticipated to be applied; the costs and anticipated savings of

implementing the process; and how the department will assure the accuracy of the eligibility

determination when the ex-parte process is used. The department shall consult with, and as

appropriate include, members of the RIte care consumer advisory council in preparing this report.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00124/SUB A

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