D.C. Law 25-144. Childhood Continuous Coverage Amendment Act of 2024.

AN ACT

To amend the Medical Assistance Expansion Program Act of 1999 to provide for continuous coverage for children 0 to 6 years of age under Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Immigrant Children's Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Childhood Continuous Coverage Amendment Act of 2024".

Sec. 2. The Medical Assistance Expansion Program Act of 1999, effective October 20, 1999 (D.C. Law 13-38; D.C. Official Code § 1-307.03 passim), is amended by adding a new section 2203a to read as follows:

"Sec. 2203a. Childhood continuous eligibility requirements.

"(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child who is 0 to 5 years of age, excluding those eligible for Medicaid based on the home and community-based services waiver under 42 CFR § 435.217, who enrolls in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program authorized under section 2203, shall be eligible to receive continuous coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, regardless of the family's change in income, until the end of the month in which the child turns 6 years of age; provided, that the continuous coverage described by this subsection shall not apply until such time that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approves the waiver or exemption, or amendment to the Medicaid state plan described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

"(2) By September 30, 2024, the Mayor shall seek any waivers and exemptions from federal statutes and regulations, or amendments to the Medicaid state plan, necessary to provide the continuous coverage described in this subsection.

"(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child who is 0 to 5 years of age who enrolls in the Immigrant Children's Program established under section 2202(b) shall be eligible to receive continuous coverage through the Immigrant Children's Program, regardless of the family's change in income, until the end of the month in which the child turns 6 years of age.

"(c) A child's eligibility to receive continuous coverage under this section shall be redetermined or terminated if:

"(1) The child is no longer a resident of the District;

"(2) The child's parent or legal guardian requests termination of eligibility;

"(3) The child dies; or

"(4) The Department of Healthcare Finance determines that the child's eligibility was erroneously granted at the most recent determination, redetermination, or renewal of eligibility because of agency error, fraud, abuse, or perjury.".

Sec. 3. Applicability.

(a) This act shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan.

(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council of the certification.

(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in the District of Columbia Register.

(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the applicability of this act.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.