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2008 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: O'Bannon
Co-Patron(s): Morgan
Increase Funding for Va. Bleeding Disorders Program

Item 295 #1h

Item 295 #1h

First Year - FY2009 Second Year - FY2010
Health And Human Resources
Health, Department of FY2009 $250,000 FY2010 $250,000 GF

Language
Page 263, line 48, strike "$119,758,739" and insert "$120,008,739".
Page 263, line 48, strike "$120,058,739" and insert "$120,308,739".


Explanation
(This amendment provides an additional $250,000 each year from the general fund to fully fund the health insurance premium assistance costs for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Bleeding Disorders Program. The program works with a national nonprofit organization to transition uninsured and Medicaid eligible patients with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders whose household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level into private health insurance programs through premium assistance. Since 1996, the program has transitioned 133 individuals with hemophilia into private health insurance, saving the Commonwealth more than $22.8 million. Funding will be used to increase the number of qualified children with hemophilia who would receive health insurance premium assistance. Without this additional funding, more than half of the patients enrolled in this program are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage. The average yearly cost of a health insurance premium is $6,525 per person, whereas the average yearly cost of medication used to treat hemophilia is $98,143 per person.)