Menu
2000 Session

Budget Amendments - HB29 (Committee Approved)

View Budget Item
View Budget Item amendments

Health Care Coverage for NAFTA Workers (language only)

Item 547 #3h

Item 547 #3h

Central Appropriations
Central Appropriations

Language
Page 465, after line 45, insert:
"X.1.  If actual general fund revenue collections for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000 exceed official estimates contained in this act, the Governor is hereby directed to transfer $6,358,290 to the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop, implement, and administer a state program for displaced Virginia workers to provide at least twelve months of health care coverage for individuals and their families who are eligible for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) transitional adjustment assistance pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974, 19 USC § 2331 and its implementing regulations, and who meet the income and other criteria listed in paragraph X.2.
2.  The Board of Medical Assistance Services shall promulgate any necessary regulations for implementation of this program including, but not limited to (i) financial eligibility criteria, allowing for a maximum family income of not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level; (ii) allowable resources, which may exceed twice the maximum amount of resources that an individual may have and be eligible for medical assistance services in Virginia as established in regulation and in the State Plan for Medical Assistance Services, (iii) a provision requiring that costs incurred for medical care or any other type of remedial care shall not be taken into account when determining income; (iv) the amount, duration, and scope of medical services covered by the program; and (v) application forms and the manner of distribution of such forms and of publicizing the availability of the program.
3. The Board of Medical Assistance Services' regulations shall provide for a two-pronged program consisting of (i) a program in compliance with paragraph X.2. to be available to eligible individuals and their families regardless of failure to elect eligibility to continue their employer's group policy pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985 that shall provide for twelve months of health care coverage through a state-only program to be implemented by the Department and (ii) a program that provides for a payment of health insurance premiums for the period of twelve-month eligibility for the COBRA extension or such COBRA-eligibility period as may remain upon the individual and his family obtaining eligibility for the state-only program, a continuing unbroken six-month period of eligibility for the state-only program, and a total of twelve months of continuing, unbroken coverage via the COBRA extension and the state-only program.
4.  Pursuant to the program established above, the payment of health insurance premiums, in lieu of twelve-months of participation in the state-only health care coverage, shall be provided for individuals and their families who are eligible for the program and are not eligible for Medicaid and who can document (i) eligibility for the state program for displaced Virginia workers as established herein and in the Board of Medical Assistance Services' regulations; (ii) eligibility for NAFTA transitional adjustment assistance pursuant to 19 USC § 2331 and its implementing regulations, and (iii) an election to continue their employer's group policy pursuant to COBRA.
5.  The services available under the program shall not exceed, in amount, duration or scope, those services available to recipients of medical assistance services as established in the State Plan for Medical Assistance pursuant to  §32.1-325, Code of Virginia.
6.  For the purpose of linking essential services to displaced workers and their families and ameliorating, to the extent possible, the effects of loss of income and benefits, the Board shall establish an aggressive outreach mechanism for recent displaced workers in Virginia."


Explanation
(This amendment provides for the establishment of health care coverage for displaced workers and their families who are eligible for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) transitional adjustment assistance allowed under federal law. It provides for the development and implementation of the program within the Department of Medical Assistance Services and sets forth the parameters for the program and the promulgation of regulations to implement it.)