Administration.

Subject to sub. (2) (a) 2., the department shall administer a program to provide the health services and benefits described in s. 49.46 (2) to persons that meet the eligibility requirements specified in sub. (4). The department shall promulgate rules setting forth the application procedures and appeal and grievance procedures. The department may promulgate rules limiting access to the program under this section to defined enrollment periods. The department may also promulgate rules establishing a method by which the department may purchase family coverage offered by the employer of a member of an eligible family or of a member of an eligible child’s household, or family or individual coverage offered by the employer of an eligible unborn child’s mother or her spouse, under circumstances in which the department determines that purchasing that coverage would not be more costly than providing the coverage under this section.