S-4549.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6833

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Brown, Winsley, Thibaudeau and Franklin

Read first time 03/04/2002.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Revising medical care eligibility for certain immigrants.

    AN ACT Relating to medical care for certain immigrants; amending RCW 74.08A.100 and 74.09.415; and providing an effective date.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 74.08A.100 and 1997 c 57 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The state shall exercise its option under P.L. 104-193 to continue services to legal immigrants under temporary assistance for needy families, ((medicaid)) the state's basic health plan as provided in chapter 70.47 RCW, and social services block grant programs.  Eligibility for these benefits for legal immigrants arriving after August 21, 1996, is limited to those families where the parent, parents, or legal guardians have been in residence in Washington state for a period of twelve consecutive months before making their application for assistance.  Legal immigrants who lose benefits under the supplemental security income program as a result of P.L. 104-193 are immediately eligible for benefits under the state's general assistance-unemployable program.  The department shall redetermine income and resource eligibility at least annually, in accordance with existing state policy.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 74.09.415 and 1998 c 245 s 144 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) There is hereby established a program to be known as the children's health program.

    To the extent of available funds:

    (a) Health care services may be provided to persons who are under eighteen years of age with household incomes at or below the federal poverty level and ((not otherwise)) eligible for medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the medically needy.

    (b) The determination of eligibility of recipients for health care services shall be the responsibility of the department.  The application process shall be easy to understand and, to the extent possible, applications shall be made available at local schools and other appropriate locations.  The department shall make eligibility determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510.

    (c) The amount, scope, and duration of health care services provided to eligible children under the children's health program shall be the same as that provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW 74.09.520.

    (2) The legislature is interested in assessing the effectiveness of the prenatal care program.  However, the legislature recognizes the cost and complexity associated with such assessment.

    The legislature accepts the effectiveness of prenatal and maternity care at improving birth outcomes when these services are received by eligible persons.  Therefore, the legislature intends to focus scarce assessment resources to determine the extent to which support services such as child care, psychosocial and nutritional assessment and counseling, case management, transportation, and other support services authorized by chapter 296, Laws of 1990, result in receipt of prenatal and maternity care by eligible persons.

    The University of Washington shall conduct a study, based on a statistically significant statewide sampling of data, to evaluate the effectiveness of the maternity care access program set forth in RCW 74.09.760 through 74.09.820 based on the principles set forth in RCW 74.09.770.

    The University of Washington shall develop a plan and budget for the study in consultation with the joint legislative audit and review committee.  The joint legislative audit and review committee shall also monitor the progress of the study.

    The department of social and health services shall make data and other information available as needed to the University of Washington as required to conduct this study.

    The study shall determine:

    (a) The characteristics of women receiving services, including health risk factors;

    (b) The extent to which access to maternity care and support services have improved in this state as a result of this program;

    (c) The utilization of services and birth outcomes for women and infants served by this program by type of practitioner;

    (d) The extent to which birth outcomes for women receiving services under this program have improved in comparison to birth outcomes of nonmedicaid mothers;

    (e) The impact of increased medicaid reimbursement to physicians on provider participation;

    (f) The difference between costs for services provided under this program and medicaid reimbursement for the services;

    (g) The gaps in services, if any, that may still exist for women and their infants as defined by RCW 74.09.790 (1) and (4) served by this program, excluding pregnant substance abusers, and women covered by private health insurance; and

    (h) The number and mix of services provided to eligible women as defined by subsection (2)(g) of this section and the effect on birth outcomes as compared to nonmedicaid birth outcomes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act takes effect October 1, 2002.

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