The 2011 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. At least two items that pertain to the FAMIS programs will be introduced during the session.

The Virginia Poverty Law Center and the Children's Health Insurance Program Advisory Committee (CHIPAC) are supporting expansion of FAMIS and Medicaid coverage to immigrant children and pregnant women who are legally residing in the US. Currently, legal immigrant children who are FAMIS-eligible and pregnant women otherwise eligible for FAMIS MOMS or Medicaid for Pregnant Women are barred from receiving coverage during the first 5 years they are in the U.S.

Federal law gives states the option to cover such legal immigrants during the 5-year bar (and Virginia already does so for FAMIS Plus or Medicaid-eligible legal immigrant children). Extending coverage to FAMIS-eligible children and pregnant women is estimated to cost about $1.2 million in state funding.  This would leverage about $1.5 million in federal funds. Such coverage would also offset some state-only costs for indigent care and preventive care for children. Prenatal care for all pregnant women will likely result in additional savings and, of course, healthier babies.

The Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) recommended this coverage expansion during the 2010 session, but it was not funded. The JCHC has again supported this proposal as a part of its 2011 legislative platform.

In addition, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Health Care for all Virginians (HAV), and CHIPAC will support legislation to raise the eligibility level for FAMIS. SB266, to raise FAMIS eligibility to 225% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL), was introduced last year. The bill passed the Senate, but it was not funded in the Senate budget. It was carried over by the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, but not considered pre-session. Most recent data (2009) show that approximately 144,000 Virginia children are uninsured; approximately 49,000 of these children live in families with income above the current FAMIS eligibility level of 200% FPL. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have program eligibility that is higher than Virginia's.

The JCHC studied raising the income limit last year and supported an increase to 225% FPL, if funding was available. 

Virginia continues its work to make it easier for families to apply for and renew FAMIS coverage. Throughout 2010, many enhancements have been implemented by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). Significant changes include: the development of a one-page renewal application; the ability to apply and renew on-line (including e-signature and e-submission of verification documents); and the implementation of Administrative Renewal. 

DMAS and the FAMIS CPU implemented Administrative Renewal for children enrolled in FAMIS on October 15th. Administrative Renewal streamlines the renewal process by having parents verify and/or update information on file from the last time their children were enrolled or renewed. Here's what you need to know to help parents accurately complete their renewal forms: 

Cases are which have been renewed administratively  are sampled for internal audit periodically and income verification is requested (unless income can be electronically verified) at the time of the audit for quality assurance purposes.