Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 42 : Section 1396r-1a


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1396r-1a. Presumptive eligibility for children

    (a) In general
      A State plan approved under section 1396a of this title may
    provide for making medical assistance with respect to health care
    items and services covered under the State plan available to a
    child during a presumptive eligibility period.
    (b) Definitions; regulations
      For purposes of this section:
        (1) The term "child" means an individual under 19 years of age.
        (2) The term "presumptive eligibility period" means, with
      respect to a child, the period that - 
          (A) begins with the date on which a qualified entity
        determines, on the basis of preliminary information, that the
        family income of the child does not exceed the applicable
        income level of eligibility under the State plan, and
          (B) ends with (and includes) the earlier of - 
            (i) the day on which a determination is made with respect
          to the eligibility of the child for medical assistance under
          the State plan, or
            (ii) in the case of a child on whose behalf an application
          is not filed by the last day of the month following the month
          during which the entity makes the determination referred to
          in subparagraph (A), such last day.

        (3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the term "qualified entity"
      means any entity that - 
          (i)(I) is eligible for payments under a State plan approved
        under this subchapter and provides items and services described
        in subsection (a) of this section, (II) is authorized to
        determine eligibility of a child to participate in a Head Start
        program under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.),
        eligibility of a child to receive child care services for which
        financial assistance is provided under the Child Care and
        Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.),
        eligibility of an infant or child to receive assistance under
        the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants,
        and children (WIC) under section 1786 of this title )1(!
        eligibility of a child for medical assistance under the State
        plan under this subchapter, or eligibility of a child for child
        health assistance under the program funded under subchapter XXI
        of this chapter, (III) is an elementary school or secondary
        school, as such terms are defined in section 8801 of title
        20,)2(! an elementary or secondary school operated or supported
        by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a State or tribal child
        support enforcement agency, an organization that is providing
        emergency food and shelter under a grant under the Stewart B.
        McKinney Homeless Assistance Act )2(! [42 U.S.C. 11301 et
        seq.], or a State or tribal office or entity involved in
        enrollment in the program under this subchapter, under part A
        of subchapter IV of this chapter, under subchapter XXI of this
        chapter, or that determines eligibility for any assistance or
        benefits provided under any program of public or assisted
        housing that receives Federal funds, including the program
        under section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] or any other section of the
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) or
        under the Native American Housing Assistance and
        Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), or
        (IV) any other entity the State so deems, as approved by the
        Secretary; and


          (ii) is determined by the State agency to be capable of
        making determinations of the type described in paragraph (2).

        (B) The Secretary may issue regulations further limiting those
      entities that may become qualified entities in order to prevent
      fraud and abuse and for other reasons.
        (C) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a
      State from limiting the classes of entities that may become
      qualified entities, consistent with any limitations imposed under
      subparagraph (B).
    (c) Application for medical assistance; procedure upon
      determination of presumptive eligibility
      (1) The State agency shall provide qualified entities with - 
        (A) such forms as are necessary for an application to be made
      on behalf of a child for medical assistance under the State plan,
      and
        (B) information on how to assist parents, guardians, and other
      persons in completing and filing such forms.

      (2) A qualified entity that determines under subsection (b)(2) of
    this section that a child is presumptively eligible for medical
    assistance under a State plan shall - 
        (A) notify the State agency of the determination within 5
      working days after the date on which determination is made, and
        (B) inform the parent or custodian of the child at the time the
      determination is made that an application for medical assistance
      under the State plan is required to be made by not later than the
      last day of the month following the month during which the
      determination is made.

      (3) In the case of a child who is determined by a qualified
    entity to be presumptively eligible for medical assistance under a
    State plan, the parent, guardian, or other person shall make
    application on behalf of the child for medical assistance under
    such plan by not later than the last day of the month following the
    month during which the determination is made, which application may
    be the application used for the receipt of medical assistance by
    individuals described in section 1396a(l)(1) of this title.
    (d) Treatment of medical assistance
      Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, medical
    assistance for items and services described in subsection (a) of
    this section that - 
        (1) are furnished to a child - 
          (A) during a presumptive eligibility period,
          (B) by an entity that is eligible for payments under the
        State plan; and

        (2) are included in the care and services covered by a State
      plan;

    shall be treated as medical assistance provided by such plan for
    purposes of section 1396b of this title.



Previous [Notes] Next

Related Resources

Health Law Guide

Health Articles and Documents

Health Discussion

Ads by FindLaw