MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Smith

Senate Bill 2950

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO ESTABLISH A MEDICAID OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY THE MEDICARE ENROLLEES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID SERVICES BUT ARE NOT PARTICIPATING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  This section shall be known and may be cited as "The Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program."

     (2)  The Legislature finds that:

          (a)  About three (3) out of ten (10) Medicare enrollees have no coverage for pharmaceuticals.

          (b)  Nearly a quarter of this group lives below the federal poverty level.

          (c)  Under the Medicaid program, the State of Mississippi provides pharmaceutical coverage for qualifying individuals.

          (d)  There are many Medicare beneficiaries in the State of Mississippi that qualify for Medicaid services, but are not enrolled and participating.

          (e)  The State of Mississippi's "Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program" shall identify the Medicare enrollees who are eligible for Medicaid services but are not participating through outreach initiatives.

     (3)  There is hereby established the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program, which shall be administered by the Division of Medicaid.  The division shall implement and administer the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program through the development of outreach initiatives to identify Medicaid-eligible Medicare beneficiaries who are not participating in the Medicaid program and to promote and encourage enrollment of these eligibles in the Medicaid program.  Initiatives can include, but are not limited to, mailings, advertisements, public service announcements, literature dissemination and community outreach.

     (4)  The division shall report to the Legislature on an annual basis beginning one (1) year from the implementation date of the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program.

     The division report shall include the following:

          (a)  The baseline number of Medicare beneficiaries who were Medicaid eligible at the beginning of the previous year.

          (b)  The number of Medicaid-eligible Medicare beneficiaries who were targeted via the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program.

          (c)  The number of Medicaid-eligible Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicaid in a given year and any information of enrollment via the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program.

          (d)  A description of the outreach initiatives utilized by the Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Program.

          (e)  A detailed accounting of how funding was utilized.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.