Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 10–Committee on Judiciary

 

(On Behalf of Interim Study on Integration of State
and Local Child Welfare Systems (ACR 53))

 

March 13, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

 

SUMMARY—Urges Department of Human Resources to review federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 to determine feasibility of amending state plan for Medicaid to create new Medicaid eligibility group for young adults who have “aged out” of foster care. (BDR R‑323)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Urging the Department of Human Resources to review the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 to determine the feasibility of amending the state plan for Medicaid to create a new Medicaid eligibility group for young adults who have “aged out” of foster care.

 

   Whereas, Each year, more than 20,000 young adults across the country are discharged from the foster care system upon reaching 18 years of age; and

1-1     Whereas, These young adults face tremendous challenges and

1-2  financial difficulties in coping with their transition from foster care to

1-3  independent living; and

1-4     Whereas, The majority of those young adults do not receive the family

1-5  support typically given to persons entering adulthood; and

1-6     Whereas, In addition, many of young adults leaving foster care at 18

1-7  years of age do not have employment through which they may obtain

1-8  health care coverage if they become ill, have an accident or fall victim to

1-9  violence; and

1-10     Whereas, A 1995 report of the General Accounting Office indicates

1-11  that studies have shown that children in foster care suffer more frequent

1-12  and more serious medical, developmental and psychological problems than

1-13  most other groups of children; and

1-14     Whereas, While in foster care, most of these children were eligible for

1-15  Medicaid or other governmental health care programs, but upon reaching

1-16  18 years of age, they lose this coverage; and

1-17     Whereas, Therefore, many young adults who leave foster care at 18

1-18  years of age have significant and continuing health problems but often only

1-19  have limited access to adequate health care and mental health services; and

2-1     Whereas, The bipartisan federal Foster Care Independence Act of

2-2  1999 offers an opportunity for states to assist these young adults until they

2-3  are 21 years of age and in a better position to provide their own health care

2-4  coverage; and

2-5     Whereas, The Act provides considerable flexibility to states desiring to

2-6  offer health care coverage to this group of young adults between 18 and 21

2-7  years of age; and

2-8     Whereas, Because this state is responsible for the nonfederal share of

2-9  Medicaid payments, a determination of the cost of such a new eligibility

2-10  group must be made; now, therefore, be it

2-11     Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-12  Concurring, That the Nevada Legislature hereby urges the Department

2-13  of Human Resources to review the federal Foster Care Independence Act

2-14  of 1999, and to determine the feasibility of amending the State Medicaid

2-15  Plan to create a new Medicaid eligibility group for young adults who have

2-16  “aged out” of foster care; and be it further

2-17     Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

2-18  a copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Human

2-19  Resources.

 

2-20  H