2023 -- H 5986

========

LC001806

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR

CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Cruz, Potter, Voas, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

     The general assembly hereby finds as follows:

     (1) Stable health coverage for infants and young children helps ensure children receive

high-quality and timely preventive health care, including vaccinations and screenings, routine care

for illnesses, specialized health care when needed, and emergency health care services;

     (2) Routine physical and developmental screenings that occur over fourteen (14)

recommended scheduled well-child preventive health care visits from birth through age five (5)

years help to identify potential developmental delays and disabilities, as well as emerging vision,

hearing, dental, and physical conditions, as well as developmental delays and disabilities, as early

as possible so that further appropriate evaluations, interventions, and treatments can be provided;

     (3) Young children experience six (6) to nine (9) acute, short-term illnesses per year that

can require a health care visit and treatment, including respiratory viruses, gastrointestinal illness,

croup, ear infections, conjunctivitis, fevers, and skin rashes and some young children have chronic,

long-term illnesses that require frequent health care visits for evaluations, diagnosis, treatment, and

management of these chronic conditions;

     (4) At least fifty percent (50%) of infants and young children in Rhode Island have

Medicaid/RIte Care coverage;

     (5) Children may temporarily lose their health coverage at the required yearly

redetermination of eligibility due solely to administrative barriers (commonly referred to as

“churn”);

     (6) Continuous eligibility for RIte Track/RIte Care during infancy and the early childhood

years will prevent gaps in coverage, ensuring that children remain enrolled in their health plan with

consistent coverage so that they can receive timely and necessary preventative, routine, and

emergency care services and treatment for identified conditions to promote healthy development;

and

     (7) Continuous eligibility also promotes health equity by limiting gaps in coverage for low-

income children who experience disproportionate rates of health disparities, particularly Children

of Color.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-12.3 of the General Laws entitled "Health Care for Children and

Pregnant Women" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-12.3-17. Continuous coverage for children from birth through age five (5).

     (a) Individuals ages zero through five (5) years who are enrolled in RIte Track/RIte Care

pursuant to this chapter shall qualify for continuous eligibility until the end of the month in which

their sixth birthday falls. Continuous eligibility shall end if the individual is no longer a resident

of Rhode Island, the parent or guardian of the individual requests termination of eligibility, the

individual dies or the executive office of health and human services determines that eligibility was

erroneously granted.

     (b) The executive office of health and human services shall seek any necessary

amendments to the Rhode Island Medicaid Section 1115 waiver to implement continuous

eligibility.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001806

========

LC001806 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR

CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN

***

     This act would provide children from birth through age five (5) years with continuous

coverage eligibility for RIte Track/RIte Care so that they are not at risk of losing coverage at the

yearly redetermination due solely to administrative barriers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001806

========

LC001806 - Page 3 of 3