The Katie Beckett Program helps kids in this state with disabilities and complex medical needs under the age of 18. The program provides care for a child's disability or medical needs, even if their parents make too much money to get medicaid, and children can receive this care in their homes. Part A of the program helps children in this state with the most significant disabilities or complex medical needs. For Part A, a child must meet "institutional" level of care, which means the child would qualify to receive care in a medical institution like a hospital or a nursing home but want care at home. Children in Part A receive full medicaid benefits and also can get up to $15,000 in nonmedical services called home- and community-based services. A child must have private insurance, and a premium may be required based on the family's income. This bill requires the director of TennCare to take those actions the director deems necessary to enable the bureau of TennCare to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the program the option to use the wraparound home- and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement. Such actions may include seeking a waiver amendment or new federal waiver.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-164