ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
Purpose
Expands the benefits package
under the children’s health insurance program (CHIP) and authorizes school
districts to perform outreach and information activities related to CHIP.
Background
In 1998 the Legislature
established CHIP to provide health care coverage to children under age 19 from
families with income at or below 200 percent federal poverty level ($34,100 for
a family of four). As of January 1, 2001, 94,573 children have been approved
for health care coverage due to the outreach activities of the Arizona Health
Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) administration and other organizations; 42,875
have been enrolled in CHIP and 51,698 have been approved for Medicaid.
A.R.S. §36-2989 limits
behavioral health services under CHIP during each 12-month period to 30 days of
inpatient services and 30 outpatient visits.
This statute also limits eye care to one eye examination and one set of
prescription lenses per year and medically necessary transportation for
emergency conditions. S.B. 1087
conforms the CHIP benefits package to the AHCCCS acute care program benefits
package by removing the limits on behavioral health services and eye care, and
providing nonemergency transportation.
S.B. 1087 attempts to eliminate the burden of the AHCCCS health plans
and regional behavioral health authorities from administering two different
systems of benefits.
According to AHCCCS, from
October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2000, 57 children exceeded the behavioral
health services limits under CHIP.
These children continued to receive services through the non-title XIX
program (general fund revenue) at a cost of $339,000. Under the provisions of this bill, the state’s share of this cost
would have been 25 percent or $84,000.
Currently, on request,
AHCCCS provides CHIP applications and information to schools. However, A.R.S. § 36-2988 prohibits the
administration and contractors from contracting with school districts to
perform outreach and information activities relating to CHIP. According to a survey conducted by the
AHCCCS administration, 40 states currently involve schools in outreach,
information and application activities relating to CHIP. Also, according to a recent study presented
to Congress regarding CHIP, the U.S. General Accounting Office stated,
“blanketing school-aged children and their families with program information
through local school districts is another outreach technique that some states
are finding particularly effective.”
Provisions
1. Eliminates, as of October 1, 2000, the limitations on behavioral health services and eye care coverage under CHIP.
2. Expands, as of October 1, 2000, covered benefits under CHIP to include nonemergency transportation.
3. Authorizes school districts to perform outreach and information activities related to CHIP.
4. Eliminates the prohibition of the AHCCCS administration and contractors from contracting with school districts to perform outreach and information activities relating to CHIP.
5. Makes a conforming change.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 19, 2001