CCS/HCS/SB 607 - This act modifies several provisions of law relating to public assistance programs, including: (1) data verification for public assistance eligibility; (2) MO HealthNet reimbursement for certain health care providers; (3) the Joint Committee on Public Assistance; and (4) MO HealthNet reimbursement for ground emergency medical transportation services. DATA VERIFICATION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY (Section 208.065) This act requires the Department of Social Services, by January 1, 2017, to contract with a private vendor to verify that eligibility requirements are being met by recipients of public assistance, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program, temporary assistance for needy families, child care assistance, and MO HealthNet. The Department will retain final determination of eligibility. The Department and the contractor are required to file an annual report with the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the eligibility data. This provision is substantially similar to provisions in SCS/HB 1795 (2016), SCS/HCS/HB 796 (2015), HB 985 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 35 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 322 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 38 (2015). MO HEALTHNET REIMBURSEMENT (Section 208.152) This act provides that, subject to appropriations, MO HealthNet providers of behavioral, social, and psychophysiological services, including psychologists, shall be reimbursed for the prevention, treatment, or management of physical health problems. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 608 (2016), SB 972 (2016), HB 1659 (2016), and SB 281 (2015). JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Section 208.952) This act modifies the Joint Committee on MO HealthNet to create a permanent Joint Committee on Public Assistance. The committee shall have the following purposes: (1) studying, monitoring, and reviewing the efficacy of public assistance programs within the state; (2) determining the level and adequacy of resources needed for the programs; and (3) developing recommendations on the public assistance programs and on promoting independence from safety-net programs among participants as may be appropriate. The committee shall receive and obtain information from the departments of Social Services, Mental Health, Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and any other department as applicable, regarding projected enrollment growth, budgetary matters, trends in childhood poverty and hunger, and any other information deemed relevant to the committee's purpose. The directors of the departments of Social Services, Mental Health, and Health and Senior Services shall each submit an annual written report providing data and statistical information regarding the caseloads of the Department's employees involved in the administration of public assistance programs. The committee shall meet at least twice a year. A portion of the meeting shall be set aside for public testimony. The committee is authorized to hire staff and enter into employment contracts, including for an executive director, to conduct special reviews or investigations of the state's public assistance programs. The committee shall conduct an annual rolling 5-year forecast of the state's public assistance programs and make recommendations to the General Assembly. This act also repeals a section of law relating to a rolling 5-year MO HealthNet forecast conducted by the Legislative Budget Office. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 608 (2016), HCS/SCS/SBs 688 & 854 (2016), and similar to provisions in SB 854 (2016) and HCS/SCS/SB 38 (2015). MO HEALTHNET REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROUND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (Sections 208.1030 and 208.1032) Under this act, an eligible MO HealthNet provider may receive a supplemental reimbursement, in addition to the MO HealthNet reimbursement such provider would otherwise receive, for ground emergency medical transportation services, provided that such reimbursement shall not exceed 100% of actual costs. The act specifies how such supplemental payments shall be calculated and how an eligible provider's claimed expenditures for the ground emergency medical transportation services shall be eligible for federal financial participation. This act also requires the Department of Social Services to design and implement an intergovernmental transfer program relating to ground emergency medical transportation services in order to increase capitation payments for the purpose of increasing reimbursement to eligible MO HealthNet providers, as detailed in the act. Any eligible provider participating in this program shall agree to reimburse the Department for any costs associated with implementing the program. These provisions are subject to federal approval, as necessary. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 732 (2016) and similar to HCS/HB 2496 (2016) and SB 1072 (2016). SARAH HASKINS