Section 208.662

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 208

Effective - 28 Aug 2014, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  208.662.  Program established as CHIPs program — eligibility — coverage — report, content — program not entitlement. — 1.  There is hereby established within the department of social services the "Show-Me Healthy Babies Program" as a separate children's health insurance program (CHIP) for any low-income unborn child.  The program shall be established under the authority of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as amended, and 42 CFR 457.1.

  2.  For an unborn child to be enrolled in the show-me healthy babies program, his or her mother shall not be eligible for coverage under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, the Medicaid program, as it is administered by the state, and shall not have access to affordable employer-subsidized health care insurance or other affordable health care coverage that includes coverage for the unborn child.  In addition, the unborn child shall be in a family with income eligibility of no more than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level, or the equivalent modified adjusted gross income, unless the income eligibility is set lower by the general assembly through appropriations.  In calculating family size as it relates to income eligibility, the family shall include, in addition to other family members, the unborn child, or in the case of a mother with a multiple pregnancy, all unborn children.

  3.  Coverage for an unborn child enrolled in the show-me healthy babies program shall include all prenatal care and pregnancy-related services that benefit the health of the unborn child and that promote healthy labor, delivery, and birth.  Coverage need not include services that are solely for the benefit of the pregnant mother, that are unrelated to maintaining or promoting a healthy pregnancy, and that provide no benefit to the unborn child.  However, the department may include pregnancy-related assistance as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 1397ll.

  4.  There shall be no waiting period before an unborn child may be enrolled in the show-me healthy babies program.  In accordance with the definition of child in 42 CFR 457.10, coverage shall include the period from conception to birth.  The department shall develop a presumptive eligibility procedure for enrolling an unborn child.  There shall be verification of the pregnancy.

  5.  Coverage for the child shall continue for up to one year after birth, unless otherwise prohibited by law or unless otherwise limited by the general assembly through appropriations.

  6.  Pregnancy-related and postpartum coverage for the mother shall begin on the day the pregnancy ends and extend through the last day of the month that includes the sixtieth day after the pregnancy ends, unless otherwise prohibited by law or unless otherwise limited by the general assembly through appropriations.  The department may include pregnancy-related assistance as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 1397ll.

  7.  The department shall provide coverage for an unborn child enrolled in the show-me healthy babies program in the same manner in which the department provides coverage for the children's health insurance program (CHIP) in the county of the primary residence of the mother.

  8.  The department shall provide information about the show-me healthy babies program to maternity homes as defined in section 135.600, pregnancy resource centers as defined in section 135.630, and other similar agencies and programs in the state that assist unborn children and their mothers.  The department shall consider allowing such agencies and programs to assist in the enrollment of unborn children in the program, and in making determinations about presumptive eligibility and verification of the pregnancy.

  9.  Within sixty days after August 28, 2014, the department shall submit a state plan amendment or seek any necessary waivers from the federal Department of Health and Human Services requesting approval for the show-me healthy babies program.

  10.  At least annually, the department shall prepare and submit a report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president pro tempore of the senate analyzing and projecting the cost savings and benefits, if any, to the state, counties, local communities, school districts, law enforcement agencies, correctional centers, health care providers, employers, other public and private entities, and persons by enrolling unborn children in the show-me healthy babies program.  The analysis and projection of cost savings and benefits, if any, may include but need not be limited to:

  (1)  The higher federal matching rate for having an unborn child enrolled in the show-me healthy babies program versus the lower federal matching rate for a pregnant woman being enrolled in MO HealthNet or other federal programs;

  (2)  The efficacy in providing services to unborn children through managed care organizations, group or individual health insurance providers or premium assistance, or through other nontraditional arrangements of providing health care;

  (3)  The change in the proportion of unborn children who receive care in the first trimester of pregnancy due to a lack of waiting periods, by allowing presumptive eligibility, or by removal of other barriers, and any resulting or projected decrease in health problems and other problems for unborn children and women throughout pregnancy; at labor, delivery, and birth; and during infancy and childhood;

  (4)  The change in healthy behaviors by pregnant women, such as the cessation of the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, or other harmful practices, and any resulting or projected short-term and long-term decrease in birth defects; poor motor skills; vision, speech, and hearing problems; breathing and respiratory problems; feeding and digestive problems; and other physical, mental, educational, and behavioral problems; and

  (5)  The change in infant and maternal mortality, preterm births and low birth weight babies and any resulting or projected decrease in short-term and long-term medical and other interventions.

  11.  The show-me healthy babies program shall not be deemed an entitlement program, but instead shall be subject to a federal allotment or other federal appropriations and matching state appropriations.

  12.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as obligating the state to continue the show-me healthy babies program if the allotment or payments from the federal government end or are not sufficient for the program to operate, or if the general assembly does not appropriate funds for the program.

  13.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding MO HealthNet or fulfilling a mandate imposed by the federal government on the state.

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(L. 2014 S.B. 716 merged with S.B. 754)