HOUSE BILL NO. 1443

By Representatives Rinks, Head, Fitzhugh, Pinion, Maddox, Tidwell, Ronnie Cole, Phelan, McKee, Ridgeway, White, Cross, Kisber, Whitson, McDaniel, Walley, Lewis

Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1640

By Senators Herron, Henry, Dixon, Crowe

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to TennCare.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-106, is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision (k):

(k) Effective January 1, 1998, if the actual enrollment of non-previously enrolled children under the age of eighteen (18) that began on April 1, 1997, has not reached seventy-five percent (75%) of anticipated enrollment level of fifty thousand (50,000) children, the Commissioner of the Department of Health shall offer enrollment in the Title XIX waiver program (TennCare) to children under age eighteen (18) whose family income is below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level schedule in effect for calculation of TennCare premiums. Such offer of enrollment in the TennCare program shall be made in accordance with TennCare promulgated rules and regulations. It is the legislative intent that this section be implemented only to the extent that it is determined to be consistent with the terms, conditions and eligibility criteria of the TennCare waiver as approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and that State and Federal funding is available for such purpose.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming law, the public welfare requiring it.