Start Healthy Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide medical assistance to uninsured newborns under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes.
2. Medicaid assistance for uninsured newborns
“(X) who are qualified newborns (as defined in subsection (e)(16)(A));”
“(16) Deemed eligibility for qualified newborns
“(A) Qualified newborn defined—For purposes of this section, the term qualified newborn means a child who—
“(i) is born in the United States on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph;
“(ii) is under 1 year of age;
“(iii) is not a child who is deemed eligible under paragraph (4); and
“(iv) is not eligible for minimum essential coverage, as defined in section 5000A(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, but applied without regard to coverage provided under subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(X).
“(B) Deemed eligibility—Subject to subparagraph (C), a child that a State reasonably believes is a qualified newborn (and thus eligible for medical assistance under subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(X)) on the date of such child’s birth shall be deemed to have applied for medical assistance and to have been found eligible for such assistance under such plan on the date of such birth and to remain eligible for such assistance until such child is one year of age, unless a State determines that a child is not eligible for such medical assistance through a redetermination under subparagraph (D).
“(C) Exception for other coverage
“(i) In general—If, during the period of eligibility under subparagraph (A), the State determines that the child is enrolled in a type of coverage described in subparagraph (A)(iv), the State may terminate medical assistance for such child under subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(X).
“(ii) Limitation—A State that determines that a child is eligible for such coverage, but not enrolled in such coverage, may not terminate such medical assistance for such child until such child is enrolled in such coverage.
“(D) Redeterminations of eligibility
“(i) In general—Subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (C)(ii), the State shall redetermine a child’s eligibility for medical assistance under subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(X) not later than 180 days after the date of the child’s birth.
“(ii) Limitation—If an application is required for a redetermination under clause (i), and such application is not received by the State, and the State reasonably believes that the child for which such application was required continues to be a qualified newborn, the State may not discontinue such child’s eligibility for medical assistance under subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(X) on the basis of such missing application.
“(iii) Reduced FMAP for failure to do timely determination—The increased Federal medical assistance percentage provided under the third sentence of section 1905(b) with respect to individuals eligible for medical assistance under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(X) shall not apply with respect to a child, beginning 180 days after the date of the child’s birth, for whom a determination is not made on a timely basis under clause (i), unless the limitation under clause (ii) applies to such child.”