Texas House Bill HB3231

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/16/09
• Voted on by House: 4/28/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/13/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/21/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/24/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to clarification of legislative intent regarding enrollment of newborns in Medicaid managed care plans and validating related acts and decisions.

Impact

The bill specifically repeals a previous requirement regarding temporary enrollment in a fee-for-service component of Medicaid intended for newborns whose eligibility was uncertain at the time of birth. This change reflects improvements in the enrollment process that have made it less likely for delays in payment to occur for healthcare providers serving newborns. The Legislature asserts that the reasons for this requirement have become obsolete, allowing for a more streamlined process to ensure that newborns receive care promptly.

Summary

House Bill 3231 addresses the enrollment of newborn infants in Medicaid managed care plans, clarifying legislative intent and validating prior actions made by the Health and Human Services Commission regarding this process. Originally enacted in 1993, Texas began transitioning to managed care services for Medicaid recipients, which has since been expanded significantly. The bill aims to ensure that newborns can seamlessly access necessary health services without undue delays due to eligibility determinations at birth.

Contention

While the bill mainly serves to clarify operational aspects of Medicaid enrollment for newborns, any implications of potential legislative overreach or regulatory confusion have been addressed through the validation of prior decisions by the Health and Human Services Commission. However, there may be concerns about the adequacy of current enrollment processes and whether they sufficiently prevent delays in care, highlighting the ongoing dialogue regarding health service accessibility for vulnerable populations in the state.