Bill Text: TX HB4550 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility of certain children for the Medicaid and child health plan programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-26 - Referred to Human Services [HB4550 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4550-Introduced.html
  86R5467 MM-D
 
  By: Neave H.B. No. 4550
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of certain children for the Medicaid
  and child health plan programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 531.02444, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The executive commissioner shall develop and implement:
               (1)  a Medicaid buy-in program for persons with
  disabilities as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work
  Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-170) or the
  Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-33); and
               (2)  subject to Subsection (a-1) as authorized by the
  Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. No. 109-171), a Medicaid
  buy-in program for children with disabilities that is described by
  42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(cc)(1) whose family incomes do not exceed
  300 percent of the applicable federal poverty level.
         (a-1)  The executive commissioner may by rule increase the
  percentage rate prescribed by Subsection (a)(2) to a rate the
  executive commissioner determines appropriate taking into account
  the income eligibility cap set under Section 32.024(l)(3), Human
  Resources Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 62.101(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall establish income
  eligibility levels consistent with Title XXI, Social Security Act
  (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended, and any other
  applicable law or regulations, and subject to the availability of
  appropriated money, so that a child who is younger than 19 years of
  age and whose household income is at or below 376 [200] percent of
  the federal poverty level is eligible for health benefits coverage
  under the program.
         SECTION 3.  Section 62.102(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  During the sixth month following the date of initial
  enrollment or reenrollment of an individual whose household income
  exceeds 348 [185] percent of the federal poverty level, the
  commission shall:
               (1)  review the individual's household income and may
  use electronic technology if available and appropriate; and
               (2)  continue to provide coverage if the individual's
  household income does not exceed the income eligibility limits
  prescribed by this chapter.
         SECTION 4.  Section 32.024(l), Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (l)  The executive commissioner shall set the income
  eligibility cap for medical assistance for:
               (1)  pregnant women [and infants up to age one] at not
  less than 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; 
               (2)  except as provided by Subdivision (3), children
  under 19 years of age at not less than 250 percent of the federal
  poverty guidelines; and
               (3)  children under 19 years of age with a disability at
  not less than 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
         SECTION 5.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that an additional waiver or additional
  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 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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