Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-47-.17 - IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTH CHECKS FOR MINOR CHILDREN

(1) To be eligible for Families First a caretaker must meet the immunization schedule for all minor children in the AG, as defined by the Department of Health and must have all minor children in the AG screened according to the schedules in the Tennessee Checkups for Children and Teens program. Failure, without good cause, to meet these requirements will result in a 20 percent reduction in the Families First assistance payment until compliance.

(2) The penalty will be assessed whenever it is determined that the appropriate immunization or screening schedules have not been met for a child in the AG unless it is determined that there was good cause for failure to meet the schedule.

(3) Good Cause for failure to meet an immunization or health screening schedule includes a verified illness that resulted in inability to make or keep an appointment, or religious beliefs as a part of the caretaker's stated faith that prohibits such immunizations and/or health screenings.

(4) The immunization and health check requirement applies to all assistance groups, whether or not the caretaker is included in the AG.

(5) Compliance with the requirement following a period of non-compliance will result in the reinstatement of the 20 percent effective the next calendar month.

(6) The maximum penalty that can be assessed against an AG for failure to comply with this requirement is 20 percent, even if a scheduled immunization and/or health check for more than one child has been missed.

(7) The worker shall advise all Families First applicants and recipients of the availability of standard childhood immunizations through the Health Department.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-47-.17

Original rule filed December 2, 1996; effective February 15, 1997.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq.,71-1-105, and Public Acts of 1996, Chapter 950, §1115 of the Social Security Act.