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 to
the extent allowed by federal law, 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.
