GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 276*

Short Title:  Medicaid/Children.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Ezzell.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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February 27, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE IMPROVED MEDICAID COVERAGE TO CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT, TO EXPAND MEDICAID CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH RISKS, AND TO EXPAND INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN FOR THE SPECIAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. (a) Effective October 1, 1989, the Department of Human Resources shall provide Medicaid coverage, to the extent permitted by federal law, for children born after September 30, 1983, until they reach the age of eight, whose family income is equal to or less than one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty guidelines, as revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  In order to reduce county administrative costs and to expedite the provision of medical services to children eligible under this section, no resource test shall be applied.
(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources, the sum of one million two hundred sixty-nine thousand nine hundred sixty-five dollars ($1,269,965) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million six hundred forty-five thousand nine hundred eight dollars ($1,645,908) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to provide the State costs of providing the expanded coverage mandated by this section.
(c) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources, the sum of one million one hundred eighty-four thousand one hundred twenty-two dollars ($1,184,122) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million one hundred eighty-four thousand one hundred twenty-two dollars ($1,184,122) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to provide the additional eligibility staff needed to implement this section.  These funds shall be allocated among county departments of social services for the nonfederal costs of employing additional eligibility personnel needed to implement this section effective July 1, 1989. The eligibility staff employed by these funds should include staff to be placed at appropriate outpost locations such as local health departments and hospitals.
Sec. 2. (a) Effective January 1, 1990, the Department of Human Resources shall provide Medicaid coverage, to the extent permitted by federal law, for case management services for children under the age of eight considered to be at risk for special health problems, whose family income is equal to or less than one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty guidelines, as revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance, Department of Human Resources, the sum of five hundred twenty-nine thousand four hundred ninety-eight dollars ($529,498) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one million fifty-eight thousand nine hundred ninety-five dollars ($1,058,995) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, for the State costs in providing the increased coverage mandated by this section.
Sec. 3. (a) Effective January 1, 1990, the Department of Human Resources shall increase the Children's Special Health Services' eligibility level to one hundred percent (100%) of the current federal poverty level for inpatient and outpatient services for children under the age of 21 with special health needs.  Services shall be provided to the extent that resources are available.
(b)	The Department of Human Resources shall use its savings from the expanded Medicaid coverage of children under the age of eight mandated by Section 1 of this act to fund the increased coverage mandated by this section.
Sec. 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.