Texas House Bill HB4179

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to establishing a program to allow school districts to assist certain children attending public schools in maintaining their Medicaid and child health plan program eligibility.

Impact

If enacted, this bill will significantly impact the way school districts interact with health care programs, particularly in facilitating communication between families of eligible children and health services. By allowing districts to alert parents of any necessary reapplication to maintain health care coverage, this bill could reduce instances of interrupted access to healthcare for children, thereby supporting their overall well-being and continuity in receiving necessary medical attention.

Summary

House Bill 4179 seeks to establish a program that enables school districts to assist certain children attending public schools in maintaining their eligibility for Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Program (CHIP). The bill outlines a process where school districts can request eligibility information for children under Medicaid or CHIP who may face impending expiration of their benefits during the school year. This initiative aims to support children's continuous access to vital health care services, ensuring that parents are timely notified of the need to reapply for benefits.

Contention

Despite the overall supportive tone around this initiative, some concerns may arise regarding privacy and the handling of sensitive health information. The bill mandates that the executive commissioner shall develop procedures that ensure the confidentiality and appropriate use of any recipient or enrollee information shared with school districts. Hence, discussions may revolve around the delicate balance between providing essential health care access to children while protecting the private health information of families.