§9-4A-2b. Expansion of coverage to children and terminally ill.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that steps be taken to expand coverage to children and the terminally ill and to pay for this coverage by fully utilizing federal funds. To achieve this intention, the Department of Human Services shall undertake the following:

(1) The department shall provide a streamlined application form, which shall be no longer than two pages, for all families applying for medical coverage for children under any of the programs set forth in this section; and

(2) The department shall provide the option of hospice care to terminally ill West Virginians who otherwise qualify for Medicaid.

(3) The department shall accelerate the Medicaid option for coverage of Medicaid to all West Virginia children whose family income is below one hundred percent of the federal poverty guideline.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of §9-4A-2a of this code, the accruing interest in the medical services trust fund may be utilized to pay for the programs specified in subsection (a) of this section: Provided, That to the extent the accrued interest is not sufficient to fully fund the specified programs, the disproportionate share hospital funds paid into the medical services trust fund after June 30, 1994, may be applied to cover the cost of the specified programs.

(c) Annually on January 1, the department shall report to the Governor and to the Legislature information regarding the number of children and elderly covered by the programs in subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (a), the cost of services by type of service provided, a cost-benefit analysis of the acceleration and expansion on other insurers and the reduction of uncompensated care in hospitals as a result of the programs.