H-0910.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1291
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Jones, Moyer, Sprenkle and Brekke.
Read first time January 25, 1991. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
AN ACT Relating to medical care services limited to medication for former recipients of general assistance benefits; and amending RCW 74.09.035.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 74.09.035 and 1987 c 406 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) To the extent of available funds, medical care services may be provided to recipients of general assistance, and recipients of alcohol and drug addiction services provided under chapter 74.50 RCW, in accordance with medical eligibility requirements established by the department. Medical care services limited to medication, including physician services necessary for prescribing and monitoring the appropriateness of said medications may be provided to former recipients of general assistance to the extent provided in this section.
(2) Determination of the amount, scope, and duration of medical care services shall be limited to coverage as defined by the department, except that adult dental, and routine foot care shall not be included unless there is a specific appropriation for these services. The amount and scope of medical care services limited to medication shall be limited to prescription drugs which, in the opinion of a physician, are medically necessary for the continued control of a medical condition which was substantially the basis for the former general assistance recipient's incapacity. The initial duration of a recipient's eligibility for medical care services shall be six months from the date his or her eligibility commences as provided in subsection (6) of this section. At the end of six months, and every six months thereafter, the department shall conduct a review of the recipient's status. If the recipient: (a) Does not have health insurance coverage for medications through an employer or other source, and (b) does not have a household income exceeding two hundred percent of the federal poverty level as determined annually by the federal department of health and human services, the department shall continue benefits for an additional six-month period.
(3) The department shall establish standards of assistance and resource and income exemptions, which may include deductibles and co-insurance provisions. In addition, the department may include a prohibition against the voluntary assignment of property or cash for the purpose of qualifying for assistance.
(4) Residents of skilled nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded who are eligible for medical care services shall be provided medical services to the same extent as provided to those persons eligible under the medical assistance program.
(5)
Payments made by the department under this ((program)) section
shall be the limit of expenditures for medical care services solely from state
funds.
(6) Eligibility for medical care services shall commence with the date of certification for general assistance or the date of eligibility for alcohol and drug addiction services provided under chapter 74.50 RCW. Eligibility for medical care services limited to medication shall commence on the first day of the month following the month in which the recipient's eligibility for general assistance ended.
(7) The changes made by this 1991 act shall expire on July 1, 1994. Prior to this expiration date, the department shall submit to the ways and means committee of the senate and appropriations committee of the house of representatives a report containing an evaluation of the effectiveness of this program in assisting individuals to become self-supporting.