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2009 Session

Budget Amendments - SB850 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Whipple
Increase Funding for VA Bleeding Disorders Program

Item 295 #1s

Item 295 #1s

First Year - FY2009 Second Year - FY2010
Health And Human Resources
Health, Department of FY2009 $0 FY2010 $69,400 GF

Language
Page 310, line 28, strike "$120,058,739" and insert "$120,128,139".


Explanation
(This amendment provides $69,400 GF the second year to address the waiting list within the Children with Special Health Care Needs Bleeding Disorders Program for health insurance premium assistance. The Health Department currently provides $123,000 for the premium assistance program. The program works with a national nonprofit organization to transition uninsured and Medicaid eligible patients, whose household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and have a hemophilia diagnosis, into private health insurance programs through premium assistance. Since 1996, the program indicates that it has transitioned 147 individuals with hemophilia into private health insurance, saving the Commonwealth more than $24.7 million. Without additional funding, eight patients would lose their health insurance coverage resulting in costs over $530,000. The average yearly cost of a health insurance premium is $8,667 per person, whereas the average yearly cost of medication used to treat hemophilia is $66,300 per person.)