AB 878

This bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to award funding

to an organization to oversee a program to assist people in obtaining and maintaining

health care services and coverage of health care expenses (health care benefits). The

organization in turn must allocate funding to other entities to directly provide people

assistance in obtaining and maintaining health care benefits. In addition, the

oversight organization must provide training and technical assistance to the entities

and provide legal services to aid low-income people in obtaining and maintaining

health care benefits.

The services for which funding is authorized under the bill include assisting

people in applying for health insurance or government health care programs;

appealing denials of eligibility or denials of coverage for health care services;

coordinating health care benefits for people who have more than one source of health

care coverage; referring people to information and programs regarding preventive

health care, chronic disease management, responsible utilization of health care

services, and healthy lifestyle; coordinating efforts of community members who are

involved in assisting people in obtaining and maintaining health care benefits; and

educating people about the services provided under the grant program. The bill

provides that the oversight organization may award funding for these services to

nonprofit entities, governmental units, or institutions of higher education. The bill

establishes minimum knowledge requirements for people employed by the entities

to provide the services. The bill also prohibits an entity that receives funding, or its

employees, from having a financial interest in a health insurance company or health

insurance plan or from being directly involved in accrediting a hospital or nursing

home.

The bill requires the oversight organization to provide matching funds for the

grant in the first year that DHS awards the grant and requires each entity that

receives funding from the oversight organization to provide matching funds on an

ongoing basis. Finally, the bill requires DHS to apply for any federal funds available

for assisting people in obtaining and maintaining health care benefits.