2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 74.09.415: Children\'s health program established.

(1) There is hereby established a program to be known as the children's health program. The legislature finds that the children's health program is a more appropriate mechanism for providing health services to poor children who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance than grants to community clinics to offset uncompensated care or coverage through the Washington basic health plan.

     To the extent of available funds:

     (a) Health care services may be provided to persons who are under eighteen years of age with household incomes at or below the federal poverty level and not otherwise eligible for medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the medically needy.

     (b) The determination of eligibility of recipients for health care services shall be the responsibility of the department. The department shall make eligibility determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510.

     (c) The amount, scope, and duration of health care services provided to eligible children under the children's health program shall be the same as that provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW 74.09.520.

     (2) Enrollment in the children's health program shall not result in expenditures that exceed the amount that has been appropriated for the program in the operating budget. If it appears that continued enrollment will result in expenditures exceeding the appropriated level for a particular fiscal year, the department may freeze new enrollment in the program for that year.

[2005 c 279 § 2; 2002 c 366 § 2; 1998 c 245 § 144; 1990 c 296 § 2.]

Effective date -- 2002 c 366: See note following RCW 74.08A.100.      Effective date -- 1990 c 296: See note following RCW 74.09.405.