ARTICLE 20 SUBSTITUTE A

 

Relating To Human Services -- Children's Health Account

 

SECTION 1. Section 42-12-29 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12 entitled “Department of Human Services” is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

42-12-29.  Children's health account. – (a) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the "children's health account". All money in the account shall be utilized by the department of human services to effectuate coverage for home health services, CEDARR services, and children's intensive services (CIS). All money received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the children's health account. The general treasurer is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders on the account upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers from the department of human services.

   (b) Beginning in the fiscal year 2007, each insurer licensed or regulated pursuant to the provisions of chapters 18, 19, 20, and 41 of title 27 shall be assessed for the purposes set forth in this section. The department of human services shall make available to each insurer, upon its request, information regarding the department of human services child health program and the costs related to the program. Further, the department of human services shall submit to the general assembly an annual report on the program and cost related to the program, on or before February 1 of each year. Annual assessments shall be based on direct premiums written in the year prior to the assessment and shall not include any Medicare Supplement Policy (as defined in § 27-18-2.1(g)), Medicare managed care, Medicare, Federal Employees Health Plan, Medicaid/RIte Care or dental premiums. As to accident and sickness insurance, the direct premium written shall include, but is not limited to, group, blanket, and individual policies. Those insurers assessed greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the year shall be assessed four (4) quarterly payments of twenty-five percent (25%) of their total assessment. Beginning July 1, 2006, the annual rate of assessment shall be determined by the director of human services in concurrence with the primary payors, those being insurers likely to be assessed at greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). The director of the department of human services shall deposit that amount in the "children's health account". The assessment shall be used solely for the purposes of the "children's health account" and no other.

   (c) Any funds collected in excess of funds needed to carry out the programs shall be deducted from the subsequent year's assessment.

   (d) The total annual assessment on all insurers shall be equivalent to the amount paid by the department of human services for such services, for children insured by such insurers, as listed in subsection (a), but not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per child covered by the services per service per year.

   (e) The children's health account shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery provisions of § 35-4-27 of the general laws.

 

SECTION 2.  This article shall take effect as of July 1, 2008.