1. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

   1. (a) Safety net providers in the state incur significant costs by providing services to a large portion of the state's low-income, uninsured populations and individuals and families enrolled in medicaid or the children's basic health plan; and

   2. (b) This part 6 is enacted to leverage money loaned from the unclaimed property trust fund to the provider stabilization fund to obtain federal matching money to make provider stabilization payments to eligible safety net providers in order to:

      1. (I) Reduce the underpayment to safety net providers participating in medicaid or the children's basic health plan and to provide compensation to safety net providers that provide services to low-income, uninsured individuals on a sliding-fee schedule or for free;
      2. (II) Ensure access to high-quality, affordable health care for low-income and uninsured populations; and
      3. (III) Maintain the quality and continuity of services delivered by safety net providers to low-income, uninsured individuals and individuals and families enrolled in medicaid or the children's basic health plan.

Source: L. 2025: Entire part added, (SB 25-290), ch. 274, p. 1422, § 2, effective May 28.