86R11661 JG-F
By: Sheffield H.B. No. 3958
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to demonstration projects to coordinate eligibility
renewal and eligibility recertification for certain children in the
Medicaid and child health plan programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 62, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 62.1025 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.1025. ELIGIBILITY RENEWAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
(a) The commission shall establish a demonstration project through
the child health plan program to allow the commission to
simultaneously renew the eligibility of each child residing in the
same household who is eligible for enrollment in the program.
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to determine the scope of and eligibility for participating in the
demonstration project.
(c) The commission shall, to the extent possible, operate
the demonstration project established under this section in
conjunction with the demonstration project established under
Section 32.02614, Human Resources Code. The demonstration project
may not increase the frequency with which:
(1) the eligibility of children participating in the
demonstration project would otherwise be renewed; or
(2) those children's household incomes are reviewed
under Section 62.102(b).
(d) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall
submit a report to the legislature regarding the commission's
progress in establishing and operating the demonstration project
and recommendations on continuing or expanding the demonstration
project.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.02614 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.02614. ELIGIBILITY RECERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT. (a) In this section, "child health plan program" has the
meaning assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code.
(b) The commission shall establish a demonstration project
through the medical assistance program to allow the commission, to
the greatest extent possible, to develop and test solutions to
simultaneously:
(1) recertify and renew, as applicable, the
eligibility of each child residing in the same household who is
eligible for medical assistance under this chapter or for the child
health plan program, including the eligibility of siblings when a
child within the household reaches the age of one; and
(2) verify the household income of all persons
described by Subdivision (1) in accordance with this section to
determine eligibility.
(c) The demonstration project must include participation by
one or more households in each of the following categories:
(1) a household with children who are eligible for
medical assistance or the child health plan program, at least one of
whom is younger than the age of one;
(2) a household with children who are eligible for
medical assistance or the child health plan program, at least some
of whom are not siblings; and
(3) a household with at least one child who is eligible
for medical assistance and at least one child who is eligible for
the child health plan program.
(d) The commission shall simultaneously verify the
household income of all children within the same household
participating in the demonstration project not more frequently than
twice during each 12-month period, with the first verification
occurring before the sixth month following the earliest date that a
child within the household was determined to be eligible for the
medical assistance program, and the second verification occurring
after that six-month period but before the annual recertification
date.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to determine the scope of and eligibility for participating in the
demonstration project.
(f) The commission may establish the demonstration project
in one or more geographic areas in this state and form partnerships
with entities experienced in outreach, application assistance, and
enrolling recipients in the medical assistance program, the child
health plan program, and any other health benefits coverage.
(g) The commission shall, to the extent possible, operate
the demonstration project established under this section in
conjunction with the demonstration project established under
Section 62.1025, Health and Safety Code.
(h) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall
submit a report to the legislature regarding the commission's
progress in establishing and operating the demonstration project
and recommendations on continuing or expanding the demonstration
project.
(i) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall implement the eligibility renewal
and eligibility recertification demonstration projects required by
Section 62.1025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, and
Section 32.02614, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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, 2019.