OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT PROVIDING STATE-FUNDED MEDICAL COVERAGE TO CHILDREN IN THE CARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.
This bill expands eligibility for state-funded medical assistance to include (1) more children under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) commissioner's supervision and (2) children under the Department of Developmental Services' (DDS) voluntary services program who (a) are not receiving Medicaid, (b) have not yet qualified for Medicaid, or (c) are ineligible for Medicaid.
By law, the DCF commissioner must ensure that all children under her supervision have adequate medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, and social services. State-funded medical assistance is currently provided, in accordance with this mandate, to children under the care of DCF who (1) are not receiving Medicaid, (2) have not yet qualified for Medicaid, or (3) are ineligible for Medicaid because of institutional status. For children who are ineligible for Medicaid the bill removes the requirement that the child be in an institution.
Finally, the bill requires the DDS commissioner, to the extent practicable, to apply on behalf of a child, or help a child in the program qualify for, Medicaid. Current law requires the DCF commissioner to do this on behalf of children under her supervision.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009
BACKGROUND
State-Funded Medical Assistance
Under current practice, DSS runs a state-funded medical assistance program for children under DCF supervision through a cooperative arrangement with DCF. This includes those children who are (1) incarcerated or residing in detention facilities, (2) undocumented non-citizens, (3) in the voluntary services program being placed in residential treatment facilities, and (4) for whom DSS has not determined Medicaid eligibility. Federal law prohibits states from granting Medicaid to individuals in correctional institutions.
State medical assistance is used to provide bridge coverage to children in the voluntary services program who are placed in residential treatment for the initial one-month period when the parent's income is still counted in determining the child's Medicaid eligibility. It may also be used to provide coverage to children placed in out-of-state treatment facilities who may not be eligible for Medicaid. There are approximately 20 children per month in this coverage group.
The voluntary services program was operated solely by DCF until 2005 when DCF signed an interagency agreement with DDS to transition children with a dual mental health and mental retardation diagnosis served in the program to DDS. DDS also serves new children with this dual diagnosis who apply to the program.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea |
18 |
Nay |
0 |
(02/26/2009) |