H.B. 216 - Indigent Sick Program Amendments

• Establishes a state catastrophic health care cost program board with 12 members including county commissioners, legislators, and department representatives to administer medical assistance for medically indigent residents exceeding county payment thresholds.

• Creates combined application process for state and county medical assistance, with the department determining medicaid eligibility and transmitting ineligible applicants to counties for medical indigency review.

• Sets county payment responsibility at $11,000 per resident per 12-month period, with the state catastrophic program covering costs exceeding this threshold when paid at medicaid reimbursement rates.

• Revises application filing timelines, investigation procedures, and approval requirements for both emergency and non-emergency medical services, including provisions for delayed applications with supporting documentation.

• Expands utilization management authority for counties and the board, establishes joint subrogation rights for recovery from third parties, and creates automatic liens on applicant property to secure reimbursement obligations.