H-1304.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1616
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Cooke, Tokuda, Dyer, Cody, Sheahan, Regala, Talcott, Skinner, Murray, Carrell, Gombosky, Ogden, Carlson, Dickerson, Wood, Conway, Anderson, Costa, Cooper, Butler, Cole and O'Brien
Read first time 02/03/97. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to healthy children and families; amending RCW 74.09.790; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the maternity care access system has improved birth outcomes, contributing to the growth of a healthy and productive society. The legislature further finds that enabling the maternity care access system to continue serving some young children and their parents until the child's third birthday will maintain and strengthen at-risk families.
Sec. 2. RCW 74.09.790 and 1993 c 407 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 74.09.760 through 74.09.820 and 74.09.510:
(1) "At-risk eligible person" means an eligible person and her child up to age three determined by the department to need special assistance in applying for and obtaining maternity care, including pregnant women who are substance abusers, pregnant and parenting adolescents, pregnant minority women, and other eligible persons who need special assistance in gaining access to the maternity care system.
(2) "County authority" means the board of county commissioners, county council, or county executive having the authority to participate in the maternity care access program or its designee. Two or more county authorities may enter into joint agreements to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.
(3) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
(4)
"Eligible person" means a woman in need of maternity care or a child
up to age three, who is eligible for medical assistance pursuant to this
chapter ((or the prenatal care program administered by the department)).
(5)
"Maternity care services" means inpatient and outpatient medical
care, case management, and support services necessary during prenatal,
delivery, ((and)) postpartum periods through the child's third
birthday.
(6) "Support services" means, at least, public health nursing assessment and follow-up, health and childbirth education, psychological assessment and counseling, outreach services, nutritional assessment and counseling, needed vitamin and nonprescriptive drugs, transportation, parent education, family planning services, and child care. Support services may include alcohol and substance abuse treatment for pregnant women who are addicted or at risk of being addicted to alcohol or drugs to the extent funds are made available for that purpose.
(7) "Family planning services" means planning the number of one's children by use of contraceptive techniques.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall phase in the coverage of children under the revised federal maternity care access waiver by providing services to children up to age one within twelve months of the effective date of this section, providing services to children up to age two within twenty-four months of the effective date of this section, and providing services to children up to age three within thirty-six months of the effective date of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.
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