PRINTER'S NO. 1140
No. 998 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, RAYMOND, MICOZZIE, KOSINSKI, REBER, TIGUE,
DONATUCCI, MORRIS, DURHAM, J. L. WRIGHT, OLASZ, GIGLIOTTI,
GEORGE, ADOLPH, MAIALE, DOMBROWSKI, NAHILL, ACOSTA, STABACK,
GODSHALL, McVERRY, CARLSON, FOX, VEON, J. TAYLOR, DeLUCA,
HALUSKA, JOHNSON, CAWLEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, ANGSTADT, BURD,
ITKIN, LASHINGER, DIETTERICK, BELARDI, TELEK, MRKONIC,
BELFANTI, HERMAN, HOWLETT, COHEN, SCHULER AND TANGRETTI,
APRIL 5, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AND AGING, APRIL 5, 1989
AN ACT
1 Establishing a State program in the Department of Health to
2 provide for funding and services for chronically disabled
3 children.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Legislative findings.
7 (a) Findings.--The General Assembly estimates that there are
8 60,000 children in Pennsylvania with a severe chronic illness
9 and approximately one-half million children with chronic
10 illnesses requiring medical intervention. Many of these children
11 require life-sustaining medications and services. Their parents
12 are often unable to meet financial obligations for their
13 children's medical care beyond health insurance coverage.
14 (b) Intent.--It is the intent of the General Assembly to
15 establish a program for children with chronically disabling
1 medical conditions that will enhance and support the provision
2 of existing medical care and services and provide financial
3 relief for families who are unable to pay for extraordinary
4 health care costs for their children.
5 Section 2. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Children." Individuals under 21 years of age.
10 "Chronically disabling condition." An illness or disability
11 requiring medical intervention over a prolonged period of time.
12 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
13 Section 3. Chronically disabled children's program.
14 (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a program
15 for chronically disabled children to assure that coordinated
16 services are available for chronically disabled children by
17 integrating all available resources, including Federal, State,
18 voluntary and private insurance funding. Any State appropriation
19 for this program shall be used only after all third-party
20 coverage, including Medical Assistance, has been used.
21 (b) Requests for assistance.--The department shall receive
22 requests for assistance from families and referrals from health
23 care professionals to serve chronically disabled children
24 through local community health centers.
25 (c) Guidelines.--The department shall develop guidelines to
26 provide financial assistance to families who have children with
27 chronically disabling conditions and whose household income
28 exceeds eligibility for Medical Assistance but is not sufficient
29 to pay for expensive long-term care.
30 (d) Fee schedule.--The department shall develop a fee
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1 schedule based on the family's ability to pay for medically
2 necessary services, prescriptions and equipment.
3 Section 4. Reports to General Assembly.
4 The department shall report annually to the General Assembly
5 on the number of children served, the program priorities and
6 children in need of services.
7 Section 5. Appropriation.
8 The sum of $3,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
9 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Health
10 for fiscal year July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1990, to carry out the
11 provisions of this act.
12 Section 6. Effective date.
13 This act shall take effect July 1, 1989.
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