Source: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE40/40-8.4/40-8.4-12.HTM
Timestamp: 2018-01-18 12:14:32
Document Index: 516512409

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 40', '§ 1396', '§ 1396', '§ 1396', '§ 1396', '§ 1397', '§ 2', '§ 2', 'art. 32', '§ 1', 'art. 25', '§ 1', 'art. 10', '§ 1', 'art. 23', '§ 4', 'art. 19', '§ 5']

40-8.4-12
SECTION 40-8.4-12
§ 40-8.4-12. RIte Share Health Insurance Premium Assistance Program.
(a) Basic RIte Share Health Insurance Premium Assistance Program. The office of health and human services is authorized and directed to amend the medical assistance Title XIX state plan to implement the provisions of section 1906 of Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396e, and establish the Rhode Island health insurance premium assistance program for RIte Care eligible families with incomes up to two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level who have access to employer-based health insurance. The state plan amendment shall require eligible families with access to employer-based health insurance to enroll themselves and/or their family in the employer-based health insurance plan as a condition of participation in the RIte Share program under this chapter and as a condition of retaining eligibility for medical assistance under chapters 5.1 and 8.4 of this title and/or chapter 12.3 of title 42 and/or premium assistance under this chapter, provided that doing so meets the criteria established in section 1906 of Title XIX for obtaining federal matching funds and the department has determined that the individual's and/or the family's enrollment in the employer-based health insurance plan is cost-effective and the department has determined that the employer-based health insurance plan meets the criteria set forth in subsection (d). The department shall provide premium assistance by paying all or a portion of the employee's cost for covering the eligible individual or his or her family under the employer-based health insurance plan, subject to the cost sharing provisions in subsection (b), and provided that the premium assistance is cost-effective in accordance with Title XIX, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.
(b) Individuals who can afford it shall share in the cost. The office of health and human services is authorized and directed to apply for and obtain any necessary waivers from the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, including, but not limited to, a waiver of the appropriate sections of Title XIX, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., to require that families eligible for RIte Care under this chapter or chapter 12.3 of title 42 with incomes equal to or greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty level pay a share of the costs of health insurance based on the individual's ability to pay, provided that the cost sharing shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the individual's annual income. The department of human services shall implement the cost-sharing by regulation, and shall consider co-payments, premium shares or other reasonable means to do so.
(c) Current RIte Care enrollees with access to employer-based health insurance. The office of health and human services shall require any family who receives RIte Care or whose family receives RIte Care on the effective date of the applicable regulations adopted in accordance with subsection (f) to enroll in an employer-based health insurance plan at the individual's eligibility redetermination date or at an earlier date determined by the department, provided that doing so meets the criteria established in the applicable sections of Title XIX, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., for obtaining federal matching funds and the department has determined that the individual's and/or the family's enrollment in the employer-based health insurance plan is cost-effective and has determined that the health insurance plan meets the criteria in subsection (d). The insurer shall accept the enrollment of the individual and/or the family in the employer-based health insurance plan without regard to any enrollment season restrictions.
(d) Approval of health insurance plans for premium assistance. The office of health and human services shall adopt regulations providing for the approval of employer-based health insurance plans for premium assistance and shall approve employer-based health insurance plans based on these regulations. In order for an employer-based health insurance plan to gain approval, the department must determine that the benefits offered by the employer-based health insurance plan are substantially similar in amount, scope, and duration to the benefits provided to RIte Care eligible persons by the RIte Care program, when the plan is evaluated in conjunction with available supplemental benefits provided by the office. The office shall obtain and make available to persons otherwise eligible for RIte Care as supplemental benefits those benefits not reasonably available under employer-based health insurance plans which are required for RIte Care eligible persons by state law or federal law or regulation.
(e) Maximization of federal contribution. The office of health and human services is authorized and directed to apply for and obtain federal approvals and waivers necessary to maximize the federal contribution for provision of medical assistance coverage under this section, including the authorization to amend the Title XXI state plan and to obtain any waivers necessary to reduce barriers to provide premium assistance to recipients as provided for in Title XXI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.
(f) Implementation by regulation. The office of health and human services is authorized and directed to adopt regulations to ensure the establishment and implementation of the premium assistance program in accordance with the intent and purpose of this section, the requirements of Title XIX, Title XXI and any approved federal waivers.
(P.L. 2000, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 2000, ch. 229, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 32, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 25, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 10, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 23, §§ 4, 13; P.L. 2013, ch. 144, art. 19, § 5.)