General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5450
February Session, 2012 LCO No. 2096
*02096_______HS_*
Referred to Committee on Human Services
Introduced by:
(HS)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 5450
February Session, 2012
LCO No. 2096
*02096_______HS_*
Referred to Committee on Human Services
Introduced by:
(HS)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BASIC HEALTH PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) On and after January 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Office of Health Reform and Innovation, shall establish and implement a basic health program in accordance with Section 1331 of the federal Affordable Care Act. On and after January 1, 2014, all individuals under sixty-five years of age with income not exceeding two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, and who are ineligible for medical assistance pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, and otherwise eligible under the Affordable Care Act, shall be eligible for medical assistance under a basic health program. For purposes of this section and section 7 of this act, "Affordable Care Act" means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, P.L. 111-152, as both may be amended from time to time, and regulations adopted thereunder.
(b) Medical assistance provided through the basic health program shall include the benefits, limits on cost-sharing and other consumer safeguards that apply to medical assistance provided in accordance with Title XIX of the Social Security Act, unless the commissioner determines that the cost of medical assistance provided to enrollees in the basic health program will exceed the federal subsidies available to the state to fund the program. If the commissioner so determines, the commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Health Reform and Innovation, shall develop a plan for the basic health program that maximizes benefits and minimizes cost-sharing, within funds available from federal subsidies to fund the program.
(c) Individuals enrolled in the basic health program shall include adults with incomes exceeding one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal poverty level, but not exceeding two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, who would otherwise be eligible for HUSKY Plan, Part A benefits.
(d) To the extent that federal funds received for the basic health program exceed the cost of medical assistance that would otherwise be provided to program enrollees pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the excess of such federal funds shall be used to increase reimbursement rates for providers serving individuals receiving benefits pursuant to this section. Reimbursement rates shall be increased pursuant to this section so as to maximize access to needed health services as determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish a committee charged with making recommendations to (1) keep provider rates competitive, (2) provide payment incentives that increase access to primary care offices as an alternative to emergency room care, and (3) streamline paperwork. The committee shall be comprised of representatives of the Department of Social Services and providers who participate in the basic health program and Medicaid.
(e) The Commissioner of Social Services shall take all necessary actions to maximize federal funding and seek any necessary approvals from the federal government in connection with the establishment of a basic health program.
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Office of Health Reform and Innovation, shall submit a plan, and any federal waiver application required, for the establishment and implementation of a basic health program to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies for approval.
(b) Not later than thirty days after the date of their receipt of such plan, the joint standing committees shall hold a public hearing. At the conclusion of a public hearing held in accordance with the provisions of this section, the joint standing committees shall advise the commissioner of their approval, denial or modifications, if any, of the plan.
(c) If the joint standing committees do not concur, the committee chairpersons shall appoint a committee of conference which shall be composed of three members from each joint standing committee. At least one member appointed from each joint standing committee shall be a member of the minority party. The report of the committee of conference shall be made to each joint standing committee, which shall vote to accept or reject the report. The report of the committee of conference may not be amended. If a joint standing committee rejects the report of the committee of conference, that joint standing committee shall notify the commissioner of the rejection and the commissioner's plan shall be deemed approved. If the joint standing committees accept the report, the committee having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies shall advise the commissioner of their approval, denial or modifications, if any, of the commissioner's plan. If the joint standing committees do not so advise the commissioner during the thirty-day period, the plan shall be deemed approved.
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 17b-261 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Medical assistance shall be provided for any otherwise eligible person whose income, including any available support from legally liable relatives and the income of the person's spouse or dependent child, is not more than one hundred forty-three per cent, pending approval of a federal waiver applied for pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, of the benefit amount paid to a person with no income under the temporary family assistance program in the appropriate region of residence and if such person is an institutionalized individual as defined in Section 1917(c) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 1396p(c), and has not made an assignment or transfer or other disposition of property for less than fair market value for the purpose of establishing eligibility for benefits or assistance under this section. Any such disposition shall be treated in accordance with Section 1917(c) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 1396p(c). Any disposition of property made on behalf of an applicant or recipient or the spouse of an applicant or recipient by a guardian, conservator, person authorized to make such disposition pursuant to a power of attorney or other person so authorized by law shall be attributed to such applicant, recipient or spouse. A disposition of property ordered by a court shall be evaluated in accordance with the standards applied to any other such disposition for the purpose of determining eligibility. The commissioner shall establish the standards for eligibility for medical assistance at one hundred forty-three per cent of the benefit amount paid to a family unit of equal size with no income under the temporary family assistance program in the appropriate region of residence. Except as provided in section 17b-277, as amended by this act, the medical assistance program shall provide coverage to persons under [the age of] nineteen years of age with family income up to one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit and to persons under [the age of] nineteen years of age and their parents and needy caretaker relatives, who qualify for coverage under Section 1931 of the Social Security Act, with family income up to one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit. On and after January 1, 2014, and upon the implementation of a basic health program, the medical assistance program shall continue to provide coverage to persons under nineteen years of age with family income up to one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit. On and after January 1, 2014, and upon implementation of the basic health program, coverage shall be provided to parents and needy caretaker relatives of persons under nineteen years of age, who qualify for coverage under Section 1931 of the Social Security Act, with family income up to one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit. Should the benefits, limits on cost sharing and other consumer safeguards provided by the basic health program be different from those provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the state shall pay any resulting additional costs for parents and needy caretaker relatives who would otherwise qualify for coverage under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Such levels shall be based on the regional differences in such benefit amount, if applicable, unless such levels based on regional differences are not in conformance with federal law. Any income in excess of the applicable amounts shall be applied as may be required by said federal law, and assistance shall be granted for the balance of the cost of authorized medical assistance. The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide applicants for assistance under this section, at the time of application, with a written statement advising them of (1) the effect of an assignment or transfer or other disposition of property on eligibility for benefits or assistance, (2) the effect that having income that exceeds the limits prescribed in this subsection will have with respect to program eligibility, and (3) the availability of, and eligibility for, services provided by the Nurturing Families Network established pursuant to section 17b-751b. Persons who are determined ineligible for assistance pursuant to this section shall be provided a written statement notifying such persons of their ineligibility and advising such persons of the availability of HUSKY Plan, Part B health insurance benefits.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 17b-277 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide, in accordance with federal law and regulations, medical assistance under the Medicaid program to needy pregnant women whose families have an income not exceeding two hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty level. On and after January 1, 2014, and contingent upon implementation of a basic health program providing medical coverage to individuals with family income not exceeding two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, the commissioner shall provide, in accordance with federal law, medical assistance under the Medicaid program to needy pregnant women whose families have an income not exceeding one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal poverty level. Should the benefits, limits on cost sharing and other consumer safeguards provided by the basic health program be different from those provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the state shall pay any resulting additional costs for needy pregnant women who would otherwise qualify for coverage under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17a-22h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Commissioners of Social Services, Children and Families, and Mental Health and Addiction Services shall develop and implement an integrated behavioral health service system for HUSKY Plan Parts A and B members and children enrolled in the voluntary services program operated by the Department of Children and Families and may, at the discretion of the commissioners, include: (1) Other children, adolescents and families served by the Department of Children and Families or the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch; (2) Medicaid recipients who are not enrolled in HUSKY Plan Part A; [and] (3) Charter Oak Health Plan members; and (4) recipients of the Basic Health Program. The integrated behavioral health service system shall be known as the Behavioral Health Partnership. The Behavioral Health Partnership shall seek to increase access to quality behavioral health services by: (A) Expanding individualized, family-centered and community-based services; (B) maximizing federal revenue to fund behavioral health services; (C) reducing unnecessary use of institutional and residential services for children and adults; (D) capturing and investing enhanced federal revenue and savings derived from reduced residential services and increased community-based services for HUSKY Plan Parts A and B recipients; (E) improving administrative oversight and efficiencies; and (F) monitoring individual outcomes and provider performance, taking into consideration the acuity of the patients served by each provider, and overall program performance.
Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, the sum of thirty-six million dollars, reflecting fifty per cent of any projected savings from reducing HUSKY Plan, Part A adult coverage to those with family incomes at one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal poverty level, is appropriated to the Department of Social Services for the state basic health program.
(b) Funds appropriated to the Department of Social Services under this section shall be used (1) to provide the same benefits and limits on cost-sharing in the state basic health program as apply to medical assistance provided in accordance with Title XIX of the Social Security Act, and (2) to increase reimbursement rates for providers serving individuals receiving benefits pursuant to this section. Reimbursement rates shall be increased pursuant to this section so as to maximize individuals' access to needed health care services.
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) There is established an account to be known as the "basic health program account", which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Department of Social Services for the purposes of operating a basic health plan in conformance with Section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage New section
Sec. 3 from passage 17b-261(a)
Sec. 4 from passage 17b-277(a)
Sec. 5 from passage 17a-22h(a)
Sec. 6 from passage New section
Sec. 7 from passage New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
from passage
New section
Sec. 2
from passage
New section
Sec. 3
from passage
17b-261(a)
Sec. 4
from passage
17b-277(a)
Sec. 5
from passage
17a-22h(a)
Sec. 6
from passage
New section
Sec. 7
from passage
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To establish a basic health program providing coverage for persons under sixty-five years of age with family income up to two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]