BILL REQ. #:  H-5518.4 

READ FIRST TIME 02/11/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to facilitating continuity of medical assistance for persons confined in correctional institutions and institutions for mental diseases; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The department of social and health services shall present a feasibility study to the governor and the legislature by November 15, 2008, examining systems to expeditiously link persons released from confinement in state and local correctional facilities and institutions for mental diseases to medical assistance for which they qualify.
     (1) The study shall present an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with suspending eligibility for persons who were receiving medical assistance at the time their confinement began, including consideration of the changes required and resources needed to effectively suspend medical assistance benefits in the following manner:
     (a) No medical assistance benefits would be provided to a person while confined, except as explicitly authorized by state law.
     (b) Upon the person's release from confinement, medical assistance benefits for the person would immediately resume. No new application would be required to effectuate resumption of medical assistance.
     (c) The person would not be required to recertify eligibility for medical assistance during the period in which he or she is confined.
     (i) If the person is confined when he or she would otherwise be required to recertify eligibility for medical assistance, the department would allow the person to recertify eligibility before release from confinement, or require the person to recertify eligibility immediately after release, or at a later time established by rule.
     (ii) The study must include an assessment of the likelihood that the federal government would approve a medicaid state plan amendment to allow the state to receive medicaid matching funds for medical assistance provided to a person during the period in which recertification of eligibility is pending under (c)(i) of this subsection.
     The study must indicate a date that a system of suspension of benefits could be implemented, in accordance with this section, if such a system requires changes to information systems.
     (2) The study shall present an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with improving the efficiency and scope of the expedited medical assistance reinstatement and eligibility determination process established under RCW 74.09.555. The study must examine the costs and benefits of:
     (a) Extending expedited medical assistance reinstatement and eligibility determination to persons other than those with mental disorders;
     (b) Making the process available to persons whether or not they received medical assistance benefits before their confinement;
     (c) Developing a system under which an application could be approved before a person's release from confinement and held in a suspended status until the day of the person's release.
     (3) The study shall present an analysis of the costs and benefits of providing medical and mental health evaluations to determine whether a person is disabled for purposes of the medical assistance program before the person's release from confinement.
     (4) The study shall analyze the costs and benefits of establishing policies and procedures to accelerate notification of the department when a person enrolled in medical assistance is confined in a Washington state correctional institution or Washington state institution for mental diseases, or is released from confinement. The policies must promote the continuity of medical assistance for such persons, and be designed to inform persons in confinement about medical assistance benefits.
     (5) In preparing the feasibility study, the department shall collaborate with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the department of corrections, the regional support networks, department of social and health services field offices, institutions for mental diseases, and correctional institutions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.