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1 S.52
2 Introduced by Senators Hardy, Clarkson, Gulick, Lyons, Ram Hinsdale and
3 Vyhovsky
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Health; Agency of Human Services; health care; immigration
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to expand
8 eligibility for health care coverage to all income-eligible individuals over 18
9 years of age who are ineligible for Medicaid and for premium tax credits on
10 the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange due to their immigration status by July
11 1, 2024.
12 An act relating to expanding eligibility for health insurance to all income-
13 eligible adults regardless of immigration status
14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
15 Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. chapter 19, subchapter 9 is amended to read:
16 Subchapter 9. Coverage for Additional Populations
17 § 2091. DR. DYNASAUR-LIKE COVERAGE IMMIGRANT HEALTH
18 INSURANCE PLAN; LEGISLATIVE INTENT
19 (a) Dr. Dynasaur-like coverage. In establishing Dr. Dynasaur-like
20 Immigrant Health Insurance Plan coverage for children and pregnant VT LEG #366328 v.2
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1 individuals who are not eligible for the Dr. Dynasaur program because of their
2 immigration status, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the hospital,
3 medical, dental, and prescription drug benefits and eligibility criteria for the
4 coverage set forth in section 2092 of this chapter should align to the greatest
5 extent practicable with the benefits and eligibility criteria of the Dr. Dynasaur
6 program.
7 (b) Medicaid-like coverage. In establishing Immigrant Health Insurance
8 Plan coverage for individuals over 18 years of age who are not eligible for
9 Medicaid for Children and Adults and for premium tax credits to purchase a
10 qualified health plan on the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange due to their
11 immigration status, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the hospital,
12 medical, dental, and prescription drug benefits and eligibility criteria for the
13 coverage set forth in section 2092 of this chapter should align to the greatest
14 extent practicable with the benefits and eligibility criteria of the Medicaid for
15 Children and Adults program.
16 § 2092. DR. DYNASAUR-LIKE IMMIGRANT HEALTH INSURANCE
17 PLAN; COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN VERMONT RESIDENTS
18 (a) As used in this section, the term “Vermont residents who have an
19 immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not available” includes
20 migrant workers who are employed in seasonal occupations in this State.
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1 (b) The Agency of Human Services shall provide hospital, medical, dental,
2 and prescription drug coverage equivalent to coverage in the Vermont
3 Medicaid State Plan state plan to the following categories of Vermont residents
4 who have an immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not available
5 and who are otherwise uninsured:
6 (1) children under 19 years of age whose household income does not
7 exceed the income threshold for eligibility under the Vermont Medicaid State
8 Plan state plan; and
9 (2) pregnant individuals whose household income does not exceed the
10 income threshold for eligibility under the Vermont Medicaid State Plan state
11 plan for coverage during their pregnancy and for postpartum coverage
12 equivalent to that available under the Vermont Medicaid State Plan. state plan;
13 and
14 (3) individuals over 18 years of age whose household income does not
15 exceed the income threshold for eligibility under the Vermont Medicaid state
16 plan and who are ineligible for premium tax credits to purchase a qualified
17 health benefit plan on the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange due to their
18 immigration status.
19 (c) The confidentiality provisions set forth in section 1902a of this chapter
20 shall apply to all applications submitted and records created pursuant to this
21 section, except that the Agency of Human Services shall not make any VT LEG #366328 v.2
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1 information regarding applicants or enrollees available to the United States
2 government.
3 (d) The Agency of Human Services may adopt rules in accordance with 3
4 V.S.A. chapter 25 to carry out the purposes of this section.
5 Sec. 2. AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES; OUTREACH AND PROVIDER
6 GRANTS; IMPLEMENTATION; APPROPRIATION
7 To the extent that applicable funds are appropriated in the fiscal year 2024
8 budget, the Agency of Human Services shall use them for the following
9 purposes:
10 (1) Grants or reimbursements, or both, to health care providers for
11 delivering health care services during fiscal year 2024 to individuals who have
12 an immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not available.
13 (2) Grants to Vermont organizations that work with members of
14 Vermont’s undocumented immigrant community or with members of the
15 health care provider community to provide culturally and linguistically
16 appropriate outreach and information regarding opportunities for individuals in
17 Vermont who have an immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not
18 available to access health care services at low or no cost in fiscal year 2024 and
19 thereafter. The outreach and information shall include information on the
20 confidentiality of records pertaining to applicants and enrollees.
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1 (3) Implementing the technological and operational processes necessary
2 for the Department of Vermont Health Access to administer the coverage for
3 Vermont residents who have an immigration status for which Medicaid
4 coverage is not available as set forth in 33 V.S.A. § 2092 beginning on July 1,
5 2024.
6 Sec. 3. AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES; DR. DYNASAUR-LIKE
7 COVERAGE; FISCAL YEAR 2025 ESTIMATE
8 The Agency of Human Services shall provide information on the estimated
9 fiscal year 2025 costs of providing coverage to Vermont residents who have an
10 immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not available pursuant to
11 33 V.S.A. § 2092 beginning on July 1, 2024 as part of the Agency’s fiscal year
12 2025 budget presentation to the House Committees on Appropriations and on
13 Health Care and the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Health and
14 Welfare.
15 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATES
16 (a) Sec. 2 (Agency of Human Services; outreach and provider grants;
17 implementation; appropriation) shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
18 (b) The remaining sections shall take effect on passage, with the Agency of
19 Human Services making coverage available to Vermont residents who have an
20 immigration status for which Medicaid coverage is not available in accordance VT LEG #366328 v.2
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1 with Sec. 1 (33 V.S.A. § 2092) beginning on July 1, 2024, subject to fiscal
2 year 2025 appropriations for this purpose.
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Statutes affected: As Introduced: 33-19