By: Lewis H.B. No. 1008
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the State of Texas entering into the Interstate
Medicaid Reform Compact.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 536 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 536. MEDICAID REFORM--EXECUTION OF INTERSTATE COMPACT.
This state enters into the "Interstate Medicaid Reform Compact"
with all other states legally joining in the compact in
substantially the following form:
INTERSTATE MEDICAID REFORM COMPACT
ARTICLE I - STATE MEDICAID GRANTS
It shall be the responsibility of each participating state to
formulate plans for replacing the federal medicaid program with a
new federal program of direct grants to states, to go into effect
within one year of entrance into this compact by such state. By
consenting to this compact, the State of Texas hereby agrees to
participate in a "State Medicaid Grants" program that shall make
each participating state entitled to receive, from the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, for each of the
federal fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, a state medicaid
grant equal to the greatest of the amount to be paid to that state
under the previous federal medicaid program during the federal
fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The conditions currently
attaching under federal law to the states' use of medicaid funds
shall be suspended as to the state medicaid grants.
ARTICLE II - INTERSTATE COOPERATION
It shall be the responsibility of each participating state to set
enrollment and benefits levels that provide substantial,
affordable, and accessible health care for the poor and uninsured.
Each participating state hereby agrees that it will substantially
use its state medicaid grants to support such state health care
programs.
ARTICLE III - IMPLEMENTATION
(A) This compact shall become operative immediately upon its
entrance by any two states; thereafter, this compact shall become
effective as to any other state upon the compact's entrance by such
state.
(B) This compact shall become effective, for purposes of the
operation of federal law in the participating states and of any
other legal effect requiring consent of the United States Congress,
pursuant to Article I, Section 10, of the United States
Constitution, upon the approval of a resolution expressing the
consent of the United States Congress to this compact.
(C) This compact may be amended by agreement among the
participating states and enactment of such amendment under the laws
of each participating state. By consenting to this compact, the
United States Congress consents to any amendments adopted in
accordance with this article.
ARTICLE IV - WITHDRAWAL AND DISSOLUTION
A participating state may withdraw from this compact by repealing
its enactment of this compact. This compact shall be dissolved upon
the withdrawal of all but one of the signatories hereto.
SECTION 2. It is the request of the Texas Legislature that
the United States Congress consent to this proposed compact,
pursuant to Article I, Section 10, of the United States
Constitution.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately upon its
passage.
SECTION 4. The Texas Secretary of State shall send official
copies of this Act to the Vice-President of the United States (in
his capacity as presiding officer of the United States Senate), to
both United States Senators from the State of Texas, to the Speaker
of the United States House of Representatives, and to all 32 members
of the United States House of Representatives from the State of
Texas, with the request that this Act be published in its entirety
in the Congressional Record.