ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
1
A BILL 1
2
25-419 3
4
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 5
6
_________________________ 7
8
9
To amend the Medical Assistance Expansion Program Act of 1999 to provide for continuous 10
coverage for children 0 to 6 years of age under Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance 11
Program, and the Immigrant Children’s Program. 12
13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 14
act may be cited as the “Childhood Continuous Coverage Amendment Act of 2023”. 15
Sec. 2. The Medical Assistance Expansion Program Act of 1999, effective October 20, 16
1999 (D.C. Law 13-38; D.C. Official Code § 1-307.03 passim), is amended by adding a new 17
section 2203a to read as follows: 18
“Sec. 2203a. Childhood continuous eligibility requirements. 19
“(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child who is 0 to 20
5 years of age, excluding those eligible for Medicaid based on the home and community-based 21
services waiver under 42 CFR § 435.217, who enrolls in Medicaid or the Children’s Health 22
Insurance Program authorized under section 2203, shall be eligible to receive continuous 23
coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, regardless of the 24
family’s change in income, until the end of the month in which the child turns 6 years of age; 25
provided, that the continuous coverage described by this subsection shall not apply until such 26 ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
2
time that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approves the waiver or exemption, or 27
amendment to the Medicaid state plan, described in paragraph (2) of this subsection. 28
“(2) By September 30, 2024, the Mayor shall seek any waivers and exemptions 29
from federal statutes and regulations, or amendments to the Medicaid state plan, necessary to 30
provide the continuous coverage described in this subsection. 31
“(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child who is 0 to 5 32
years of age who enrolls in the Immigrant Children’s Program established under section 2202(b) 33
shall be eligible to receive continuous coverage through the Immigrant Children’s Program, 34
regardless of the family’s change in income, until the end of the month in which the child turns 6 35
years of age. 36
“(c) A child’s eligibility to receive continuous coverage under this section shall be 37
redetermined or terminated if: 38
“(1) The child is no longer a resident of the District; 39
“(2) The child’s parent or legal guardian requests termination of eligibility; 40
“(3) The child dies; or 41
“(4) The Department of Healthcare Finance determines that the child’s eligibility 42
was erroneously granted at the most recent determination, redetermination, or renewal of 43
eligibility because of agency error, fraud, abuse, or perjury.”. 44
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 45 ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
3
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 46
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 47
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 48
Sec. 4. Effective date. 49
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 50
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 51
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 52
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 53
Columbia Register. 54