To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of web-based enrollment systems in the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP).

April 3, 2003

Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. HONDA, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. LEE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. BELL, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. STUPAK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of web-based enrollment systems in the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `SCHIP Web-Based Enrollment Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING USE OF WEB-BASED ENROLLMENT SYSTEMS UNDER SCHIP.

(a) ALLOWING USE OF RETAINED ALLOTMENTS WITHOUT PERCENTAGE LIMITS- Section 2104(g)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(g)(2)(C)) is amended--

(1) by striking `UP TO 10 PERCENT' in the heading; and

(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: `and may use any of such amount for fiscal year 1998 and any subsequent fiscal year for expenditures in developing and implementing a system of enrollment that is based on applying for benefits through an Internet web site'.

(b) ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make available upon request to States (as defined for purposes of title XXI of the Social Security Act) information and technical assistance on the development and implementation of a web-based enrollment system under the State children's health insurance program under such title, including (in cooperation with the State of California and appropriate agencies in that State) information on the web-based system (www.healtheapp.org) being implemented in that State.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2004.

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for grants to States (as defined for purposes of title XXI of the Social Security Act) to enable the States to develop and implement web-based enrollment systems under their State child health plans under that title. Such a system may also be applied for enrollment of children and families under the medicaid program under title XIX of such Act.

(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- Grants under this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may specify and shall only be made based upon an application that is made to, and approved by, the Secretary.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section $50,000,000 for the 5-fiscal-year period beginning with fiscal year 2004. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended. Funds so appropriated are in addition to funds made available under title XXI of the Social Security Act.

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