RIte Care Policy Updates
Global Medicaid Waiver The Rhode Island General Assembly has held a series of public hearings on the Global Medicaid Waiver proposed by DHS. Many advocates presented testimony on the waiver at the House and Senate Finance Committee hearings. The General Assembly did not revoke the Global Waiver, which means that the Special Terms and Conditions proposed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will become a binding agreement between CMS and the State of Rhode Island as of January 19, 2009.
Medicaid Reform Act of 2009
In order to ensure that there is sufficient oversight as the Global Medicaid Waiver is implemented, the Rhode Island General Assembly will consider legislation ( S-0053 and H-5112) that would increase legislative control over changes to Medicaid that would be made under the global waiver and safeguard certain components of the existing Medicaid program, including RIte Care. The House Finance Committee will hold a hearing on H-5112 on Tuesday, January 20 at 1:00 P.M. in Room 35 at the State House. On January 23 at 3:00 P.M., the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Bill S-0053 in Room 211 at the State House. No Cost-Sharing for Katie Beckett Kids
The Governor's supplemental budget originally included a proposal to impose cost-sharing for children with special health care needs enrolled in Medicaid through the Katie Beckett provision. The proposal (Article 36) has been removed from the supplemental budget, which means this cost-sharing proposal will not move forward.
Governor's Proposed Supplemental Budget Includes Resource Test
Article 30 of the Governor's 2009 Supplemental Budget proposes a liquid resource test for children and families enrolled in RIte Care. View Article 30 here. Resource tests are shown to result in substantial administrative barriers to enrollment and could make Rhode Island ineligible for both SCHIP funds and a proposed increase in the federal Medicaid match rate. Forty-four states do not require this kind of liquid resource test. |
| SCHIP Passes House and Moves to Senate |
 Congress is moving quickly to pass a strong reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal program that helps states insure millions of children across the country and in Rhode Island. On Wednesday, January 14th, the House voted to reauthorize SCHIP, and a Senate vote on the bill is expected early next week. If the bill passes, incoming President Obama could sign it into law as soon as Inauguration Day. For the most recent information on SCHIP reauthorization, view the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Childern Families' SCHIP Reauthorization page. | |
