H.B. No. 583
AN ACT
relating to expansion of the electronic eligibility information
pilot project operated by the Health and Human Services Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.02413, Government Code, as added by
Chapter 605 (H.B. 321), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 531.02413. ELECTRONIC ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION PILOT
PROJECT. (a) The commission shall establish a pilot project in at
least one urban area of this state to determine the feasibility,
costs, and benefits of accepting, for the purpose of establishing
eligibility for benefits under state and federal health and human
services programs administered by the commission, the direct
importation of electronic eligibility information from an
electronic system operated by a regional safety net provider
[indigent care] collaborative organization [system].
(a-1) Not later than September 1, 2010, the commission shall
expand the pilot project to at least one additional urban area of
this state if the commission has implemented the Texas Integrated
Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) in the area selected for the
expansion.
(b) An area selected for the pilot project under this
section must possess a functioning safety net provider [indigent
care] collaborative organization [system] that includes a network
of providers and assesses eligibility for health and human services
programs using electronic systems. The electronic systems used by
the collaborative organization [system] must be able to interface
with electronic systems managed by the commission to enable the
commission to import application and eligibility information
regarding applicants for health and human services programs.
(c) In establishing a pilot project under this section, the
commission shall:
(1) create [focus on creating] a project in which
[electronic applications for indigent care created by a] regional
indigent care networks interface with the commission through the
Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) or another
state electronic eligibility system, as appropriate, to share
electronic applications for indigent care created by the care
network [may be shared] with the commission to facilitate
enrollment in health and human services programs administered by
the commission;
(2) automatically import the application information
submitted under Subdivision (1) with minimal human intervention to
eliminate double data entry and data entry errors and to ensure most
appropriate use of commission resources while maintaining program
integrity;
(3) [(2)] solicit and obtain support for the project
from local officials and indigent care providers;
(4) [(3)] ensure that all identifying and descriptive
information of recipients in each health and human services program
included in the project can only be accessed by providers or other
entities participating in the project; and
(5) [(4)] ensure that the storage and communication of
all identifying and descriptive information included in the project
complies with existing federal and state privacy laws governing
individually identifiable information for recipients of public
benefits programs.
(d) In implementing the project under Subsection (c), the
commission shall review and process applications in a timely manner
and, to the extent allowed by federal law and regulations, work
directly with each organization to obtain missing documents and
resolve issues that impede enrollment. Each organization must be
authorized by the applicant to receive information concerning the
applicant directly from the commission.
(e) The commission shall provide a monthly statistical
report to each safety net provider collaborative organization that
submits an application under Subsection (d) and to the Legislative
Budget Board on the number of applications processed, the
timeliness of the application process, and the reasons for any
delays. The commission shall work with the safety net provider
collaborative organizations to decrease delays in processing
applications.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 15, 2011, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall:
(1) assess the cost-effectiveness, efficacy,
efficiency, and benefits of using electronic eligibility
information imported from electronic systems operated by regional
safety net provider collaborative organizations; and
(2) report the commission's findings resulting from
the pilot project established under Section 531.02413, Government
Code, as added by Chapter 605 (H.B. 321), Acts of the 80th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, and amended by this Act, to the
standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
having primary jurisdiction over health and human services issues.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 583 was passed by the House on May 11,
2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 583 was passed by the Senate on May
26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor