Z-0498.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5416

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Thibaudeau, Eide, Patterson, Franklin, Rasmussen, Snyder, Wojahn, Bauer, Kohl‑Welles and McAuliffe; by request of Governor Locke

Read first time 01/21/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Creating the children's health insurance program.

    AN ACT Relating to creating the children's health insurance program; and adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) It is the intent of the legislature to create the children's health insurance program, the benefits of which are not an entitlement, to provide health care to children who are eligible for health care coverage under Title XXI of the federal social security act.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, "children's health insurance program" means the program established in compliance with Title XXI of the federal social security act for health care coverage of children:  (a) Who are under the age of nineteen; (b) whose family income at the time of enrollment exceeds two hundred percent, but does not exceed two hundred fifty percent, of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services; (c) who choose to obtain health care coverage in return for periodic payments; and (d) who are otherwise eligible under Title XXI.

    (3) Consistent with appropriated funds, the department shall design and administer the children's health insurance program under Title XXI of the federal social security act.  The benefit and cost-sharing designs shall comply with Title XXI.  The primary mechanism for purchasing and delivery of health care for the program shall be through contracts with managed health care systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522.  Consistent with Title XXI, the department may purchase health coverage for uninsured children whose families have access to dependent coverage.

    (4) The department shall:  Accept applications for enrollment in the children's health insurance program; establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine, upon application and based on a reasonable schedule defined by the department, eligibility due to current family income.  No assistance may be paid with respect to any children's health insurance enrollee whose current family income is less than two hundred percent or greater than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level or, is not otherwise eligible under Title XXI of the federal social security act.

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