To the extent permitted by federal law, on and after July 1, 2025, this bill provides that a minor who is enrolled in TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program remains eligible for TennCare medicaid and the CoverKids program until the minor reaches 18. This bill prohibits the bureau of TennCare ("bureau") from subjecting such a minor to a redetermination of eligibility or disenrolling the minor from TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program unless the bureau has knowledge to indicate any of the following:
(1) The minor's parent or guardian requests the minor's voluntary disenrollment;
(2) The minor is deceased;
(3) The minor no longer resides in this state;
(4) The minor's family income exceeds eligibility limits for TennCare medicaid and the CoverKids program; or
(5) Initial enrollment of the minor was based on a bureau error or on fraud, abuse, or perjury by the minor's parent or guardian in a manner that would disqualify the minor for enrollment eligibility in TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program.
However, this bill does not prohibit the bureau from shifting an enrolled minor from TennCare medicaid to the CoverKids program, or from the CoverKids program to TennCare medicaid, for purposes of maintaining eligibility.
This bill requires the director of TennCare to submit to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services a request for any federal waiver the director deems necessary to effectuate this bill no later than December 31, 2024.