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2006 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB5002 (Conference Report)

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Children's Health Insurance Buy-In program (language only)

Item 301 #1c

Item 301 #1c

Health And Human Resources
Department Of Medical Assistance Services

Language
Page 258, after line 31, insert:
"E.  The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall review and evaluate State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) buy-in programs for children that are operating in other states, which allow families with income in excess of the state's Title XXI program eligibility limits to purchase health insurance for their children.  This review, including recommendations regarding the development of a SCHIP buy-in program in Virginia, shall be presented to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2006."


Explanation
(This amendment requires the agency to review and report on other states' SCHIP buy-in programs. At least eight states -- Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania -- have buy-in programs that allow families with incomes in excess of their SCHIP program eligibility limits to purchase SCHIP or SCHIP-like insurance coverage for their children. Buy-in programs such as these fill a necessary coverage gap for children of working families that are not eligible for SCHIP but do not have access to or cannot afford private insurance coverage.)