Bill Text: TX HB135 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [HB135 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB135-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Guerra H.B. No. 135
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain
  persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care
  Act.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.02473 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.02473.  EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL
  ASSISTANCE. (a) In this section, "medical assistance expansion
  group" means the category of persons who would not be eligible for
  medical assistance under the eligibility criteria in effect on
  December 31, 2021, but who are eligible for that assistance because
  of the requirement of this section.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall
  provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that
  assistance and for whom federal matching money is available.
         (c)  This section does not establish an entitlement to
  benefits under the medical assistance program for persons in the
  medical assistance expansion group for whom federal matching money
  is not available. Medical assistance benefits for persons in the
  medical assistance expansion group terminate at the time federal
  funding terminates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
  Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148) as amended by the Health Care and
  Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152), unless
  a successor program providing federal funding is created.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules
  necessary to implement any changes in the provision of and
  eligibility criteria for medical assistance required by this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.02473, Human Resources Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or
  recertification of eligibility of a person for medical assistance
  under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made on or after the date
  the section is implemented, regardless of the date the person
  applied for that assistance.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall take all necessary actions to expand
  eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human
  Resources Code, in accordance with Section 32.02473, Human
  Resources Code, as added by this Act, including notifying
  appropriate federal agencies of that expanded eligibility.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.
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