AT-08-08, Final Rule: Child Support Enforcement Program Medical Support

ACTION TRANSMITTAL

AT-08-08

DATE: July 24, 2008

SUPERSEDES: AT-06-04

TO: State Agencies Administrating Child Support Enforcement Plans under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and Other Interested Individuals

SUBJECT: Final Rule: Child Support Enforcement Program Medical Support

ATTACHMENT: Attached is the Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2008 (73 FR 42416), which prescribes requirements for the Child Support Enforcement Program to address medical support coverage in IV-D cases. (Final Rule in Adobe PDF format - 222 Kbytes)

SUMMARY: This final rule:

defines cash medical support;
requires that all support orders in the IV-D program address medical support;
requires that States consider health insurance available to either parent;
redefines health insurance that is available at "reasonable cost";
requires health insurance coverage to be "accessible";
allows States to close child-only Medicaid cases under certain circumstances; and
makes changes to Federal substantial-compliance audit and State self-assessment to address medical support requirements.

REFERENCES: 45 CFR Parts 302, 303, 304, 305, and 308

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation is effective upon publication.

INQUIRIES: ACF OCSE Regional Program Managers

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: Tribal IV-D Directors