Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4550 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R5467 MM-D
2	2	By: Neave H.B. No. 4550
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the eligibility of certain children for the Medicaid
8	8	and child health plan programs.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 531.02444, Government Code, is amended
11	11	by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
12	12	follows:
13	13	(a) The executive commissioner shall develop and implement:
14	14	(1) a Medicaid buy-in program for persons with
15	15	disabilities as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work
16	16	Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-170) or the
17	17	Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-33); and
18	18	(2) subject to Subsection (a-1) as authorized by the
19	19	Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. No. 109-171), a Medicaid
20	20	buy-in program for children with disabilities that is described by
21	21	42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(cc)(1) whose family incomes do not exceed
22	22	300 percent of the applicable federal poverty level.
23	23	(a-1) The executive commissioner may by rule increase the
24	24	percentage rate prescribed by Subsection (a)(2) to a rate the
25	25	executive commissioner determines appropriate taking into account
26	26	the income eligibility cap set under Section 32.024(l)(3), Human
27	27	Resources Code.
28	28	SECTION 2. Section 62.101(b), Health and Safety Code, is
29	29	amended to read as follows:
30	30	(b) The executive commissioner shall establish income
31	31	eligibility levels consistent with Title XXI, Social Security Act
32	32	(42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended, and any other
33	33	applicable law or regulations, and subject to the availability of
34	34	appropriated money, so that a child who is younger than 19 years of
35	35	age and whose household income is at or below 376 [200] percent of
36	36	the federal poverty level is eligible for health benefits coverage
37	37	under the program.
38	38	SECTION 3. Section 62.102(b), Health and Safety Code, is
39	39	amended to read as follows:
40	40	(b) During the sixth month following the date of initial
41	41	enrollment or reenrollment of an individual whose household income
42	42	exceeds 348 [185] percent of the federal poverty level, the
43	43	commission shall:
44	44	(1) review the individual's household income and may
45	45	use electronic technology if available and appropriate; and
46	46	(2) continue to provide coverage if the individual's
47	47	household income does not exceed the income eligibility limits
48	48	prescribed by this chapter.
49	49	SECTION 4. Section 32.024(l), Human Resources Code, is
50	50	amended to read as follows:
51	51	(l) The executive commissioner shall set the income
52	52	eligibility cap for medical assistance for:
53	53	(1) pregnant women [and infants up to age one] at not
54	54	less than 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines;
55	55	(2) except as provided by Subdivision (3), children
56	56	under 19 years of age at not less than 250 percent of the federal
57	57	poverty guidelines; and
58	58	(3) children under 19 years of age with a disability at
59	59	not less than 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
60	60	SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act
61	61	a state agency determines that an additional waiver or additional
62	62	authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation
63	63	of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall
64	64	request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that
65	65	provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
66	66	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.