AN ACT Relating to state health and employment support benefits for incapacitated or disabled individuals; reenacting and amending RCW 74.09.510; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that individuals with disabilities face many barriers and disincentives to employment. Individuals with disabilities are often unable to obtain health insurance that provides the services and supports necessary to allow them to live independently and enter or rejoin the work force. The legislature finds that there is a compelling public interest in eliminating barriers to work by continuing needed health care coverage for individuals with disabilities who enter and maintain employment.

The legislature intends to strengthen the state's policy of supporting individuals with disabilities in leading fully productive lives by supporting the implementation of the federal ticket to work and work incentives improvement act of 1999, Public Law 106-170. This shall include improving incentives to work by continuing coverage for health care and support services, by seeking federal funding for innovative programs, and by exploring options which provide individuals with disabilities a choice in receiving services needed to obtain and maintain employment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

(1) It is the intent of the legislature to remove barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities by providing medical assistance to the working disabled through a buy-in program in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the social security act and eligibility and cost-sharing requirements established by the department.

(2) The department shall establish income, resource, and cost-sharing requirements for the buy-in program in accordance with federal law and any conditions or limitations specified in the omnibus appropriations act. The department shall establish and modify eligibility and cost-sharing requirements in order to administer the program within available funds. The department shall make every effort to coordinate benefits with employer-sponsored coverage available to the working disabled receiving benefits under this chapter.

Sec. 3. RCW 74.09.510 and 1997 c 58 s 201 and 1997 c 59 s 14 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Medical assistance may be provided in accordance with eligibility requirements established by the department, as defined in the social security Title XIX state plan for mandatory categorically needy persons and: (1) Individuals who would be eligible for cash assistance except for their institutional status; (2) individuals who are under twenty-one years of age, who would be eligible for temporary assistance for needy families, but do not qualify as dependent children and who are in (a) foster care, (b) subsidized adoption, (c) a nursing facility or an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, or (d) inpatient psychiatric facilities; (3) the aged, blind, and disabled who: (a) Receive only a state supplement, or (b) would not be eligible for cash assistance if they were not institutionalized; (4) categorically eligible individuals who meet the income and resource requirements of the cash assistance programs; (5) individuals who are enrolled in managed health care systems, who have otherwise lost eligibility for medical assistance, but who have not completed a current six-month enrollment in a managed health care system, and who are eligible for federal financial participation under Title XIX of the social security act; (6) children and pregnant women allowed by federal statute for whom funding is appropriated; (7) working individuals with disabilities authorized under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the social security act for whom funding is appropriated; (8) other individuals eligible for medical services under RCW 74.09.035 and 74.09.700 for whom federal financial participation is available under Title XIX of the social security act; and ((~~(8)~~)) (9) persons allowed by section 1931 of the social security act for whom funding is appropriated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.