Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed and Graziano
Date Introduced : March 19, 1999
It is enact by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 42-12.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health Care for Children and Pregnant Women" is hereby amended to read as follows:
42-12.3-4. RIte track. -- There is hereby established
a payor of last resort program for comprehensive health care for
children until they reach {DEL eighteen (18) DEL} {ADD nineteen
(19) ADD} years of age, to be known as "RIte track".
The department of human services is hereby authorized to amend
its title XIX state plan pursuant to title XIX [42 U.S.C. section
1396 et seq.] of the federal social security act to provide for
expanded medicaid coverage through expanded family income disregards
for children, until they reach {DEL eighteen (18) DEL}
{ADD nineteen (19) ADD} years of age, whose family income levels
are up to two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty
level; provided, however, that health care coverage under this
section shall also be provided without regard to the availability
of federal financial participation to a non-citizen child lawfully
residing in the United States provided such child satisfies all
other eligibility requirements. The department is further authorized
to promulgate any regulations necessary, and in accord with title
XIX [42 U.S.C. section 1396 et seq.] of the federal social security
act to implement said state plan amendment. For those children
who lack health insurance, and whose family incomes are in excess
of two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level,
the department of human services shall promulgate necessary regulations
to implement the program. The department of human services is
further directed to ascertain and promulgate the scope of services
that will be available to those children whose family income exceeds
the maximum family income specified in the approved title XIX
[42 U.S.C. section 1396 et seq.] state plan amendment.
SECTION 2. Section 42-12.3-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health Care for Children and Pregnant Women" is hereby repealed in its entirety.
{DEL 42-12.3-16. Resource limit. -- Notwithstanding
any other provisions of the general laws to the contrary, no child
or pregnant woman whose available family liquid resources are
greater than or equal to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall
be eligible for health care benefits under this chapter, under
section 40-6-7.1 or under any medical assistance state plan option
under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act [42 U.S.C.
section 1396 et seq.]. The department of human services is hereby
authorized and directed to submit to the United States Department
of Health and Human Services an amendment to the "RIte Care"
waiver project number 11-W-0004/1-01 to request federal approval
of this resource limit. The department shall implement this resource
limit only upon receipt of federal approval of the amended waiver. DEL}
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
