Dear Coalition Members,
House Speaker Greg Curtis has introduced a bill that would eliminate the cap
on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment. It requires
the Department of Health to keep CHIP enrollment open so that an eligible
child who applies for coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program
can enroll in the program.
Here is a link to the bill:
http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/hbillint/hb0326.htm (text below).
Whether or not it ultimately passes, it certainly is significant that the
Speaker would introduce legislation. It is a perfect opportunity to submit
op-eds or letters to the editor to the newspapers emphasizing that CHIP is
successful and efficient in providing health coverage for children. If you
are interested, I would be happy to work with you on a draft. We would
submit something ourselves but just had an op-ed published in the Deseret
News this past Sunday and have a another one that will be run in the SL
Tribune on the weekend. Please call or email me if you're interested. We
will put out a press release tomorrow morning.
--Jerry
H.B. 326
1
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
2
- OPEN ENROLLMENT
3
2008 GENERAL SESSION
4
STATE OF UTAH
5
Chief Sponsor: Greg J. Curtis
6
Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends the Utah Children's Health
Insurance Act.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . makes technical drafting amendments; and
14 . requires the Department of Health to keep
enrollment in the Children's Health
15 Insurance Program open so that an eligible child who
applies for coverage under the
16 Children's Health Insurance Program can enroll in the
program.
17 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 26-40-105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter
360
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 26-40-105 is amended to read:
27 26-40-105. Eligibility.
_____
28 (1) [To be eligible to enroll in the program, a
child must] A child is eligible to enroll in
29 the program if the child:
30 (a) [be] is a bona fide Utah resident;
31 (b) [be] is a citizen or legal resident of the
United States;
32 (c) [be] is under 19 years of age;
33 (d) [not have] does not have access to or coverage
under other health insurance,
34 including any coverage available through a parent or
legal guardian's employer;
35 (e) [be] is ineligible for Medicaid benefits;
36 (f) [reside] resides in a household whose gross
family income, as defined by rule, is at
37 or below 200% of the federal poverty level; and
38 (g) [not be] is not an inmate of a public
institution or a patient in an institution for
39 mental diseases.
40 (2) A child [may not be determined to be ineligible
to enroll in the program based on]
41 who qualifies for enrollment in the program under
Subsection (1) may not be denied
42 enrollment due to a diagnosis or pre-existing
condition.
43 (3) (a) The department shall determine eligibility
and send notification of the eligibility
44 decision within 30 days after receiving the application
for coverage.
45 (b) If the department cannot reach a decision
because the applicant fails to take a
46 required action, or because there is an administrative
or other emergency beyond the
47 department's control, the department shall:
48 [(a)] (i) document the reason for the delay in the
applicant's case record; and
49 [(b)] (ii) inform the applicant of the status of
the application and time frame for
50 completion.
51 (4) The department may not close enrollment in the
program for a child who is eligible
52 to enroll in the program under the provisions of
Subsection (1).
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-22-08 12:50 PM
