Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan; amends Plan, literacy pilot program.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan; Early Literacy Pilot Program

This bill directs a state agency to seek permission from a national health care organization to fund a program that helps young children learn to read and bond with their parents during regular doctor visits.

What This Bill Does

• The Department of Medical Assistance Services must ask for approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to add a new part to the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan.
• This new part will fund a pilot program that helps young children learn to read and bond with their parents during regular doctor visits in certain areas where many families need extra help.
• The Department must work with Reach Out and Read, an organization that promotes early literacy among children.

Who It Names or Affects

• Children who receive routine pediatric care in underserved localities will benefit from the program.
• Parents of young children may receive books and guidance on reading to their kids during doctor visits.
• The Department of Medical Assistance Services must apply for federal permission to start this pilot program.

Terms To Know

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

A part of the U.S. government that runs programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which help pay for health care.

Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan

A state program that helps families get medical insurance coverage.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how many children or localities will be included in the pilot program.
• It is unclear when the Department of Medical Assistance Services will receive approval from CMS to start the program.

Official Summary Text

Department of Medical Assistance Services; Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan; literacy pilot program.
Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary permissions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize and fund a pilot program promoting early literacy and parental bonding as part of routine pediatric primary care visits in select underserved localities through a partnership with Reach Out and Read.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary permissions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize and fund a pilot program promoting early literacy and parental bonding as part of routine pediatric primary care visits in select underserved localities through a partnership with Reach Out and Read.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
The Department of Medical Assistan
ce Services
(the Department)
shall seek the necessary permissions
from the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
to
amend the state plan
for the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan to authorize and fund a pilot program promoting early literacy and parental bonding as part of routine pediatric primary care visits in select underserved localities through a contracted partnership
with
Reach Out and Read as permitted pursua
nt to § 2105(a)(1)(D)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
§
1397ee).
Such pilot program is conditional on the Department obtaining all necessary approvals and federal financial participation.