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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 100 – General Provisions P a g e | 4 Effective Month: March 2019 individuals receiving SSI. In addition, SSI criteria would be used to determine eligibility for all aged, blind and disabled individuals. During the 1981 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 2478 authorized the Mississippi Medicaid Commission to make its own Medicaid determinations for aged, blind and disabled individuals. Regional Medicaid offices were opened in July 1981, for the purpose of certifying the eligibility of aged, blind and disabled individuals who did not receive SSI cash assistance. Current Structure Senate Bill 3050, entitled the “Mississippi Administrative Reorganization Act of 1984,” transferred the powers and responsibilities of the Mississippi Medicaid Commission to the Division of Medicaid in the Office of the Governor. The Division of Medicaid is the single state agency designed to administer the Medicaid Program. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS, formerly known as DPW) continued to determine eligibility for the Medicaid Programs for children and families as authorized under Section 43-13-115 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated, and later adding determination of eligibility for Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1999 under Section 41-86-15. During the 2004 Session of the Mississippi Legislature, House Bill 1434 made significant changes to Section 43-13-115 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. While retaining all Medicaid coverage groups and CHIP (Section 41-86-1 and so forth), the Division of Medicaid was given the responsibility for determining initial and ongoing eligibility for all children, families, and pregnant women. The transition of the Families, Children and CHIP (FCC) programs from MDHS to Division of Medicaid was effective January 1, 2005. During the 2012 Session of the Mississippi Legislature, House Bill 316 transferred the existing contract for insurance services for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board to the Division of Medicaid effective January 1, 2013. The Division of Medicaid has all authority set forth in 43-13-101 et seq. in administering the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).