86R10689 JG-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1534
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 in one
or more geographic areas of this state through the child health plan
program to allow the commission to simultaneously renew the
eligibility and review the household income of each child residing
in the same household who is eligible for enrollment in the program.
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
determine the scope of, and eligibility for participation in, the
demonstration project. The rules adopted by the executive
commissioner under this subsection shall ensure that the household
income of each child participating in the demonstration project is
reviewed:
(1) not more than twice during the 12-month period
during which a child remains eligible to receive child health plan
program benefits, including at the time eligibility under the
program is renewed; and
(2) at the same time as each other child residing in
the same household who is eligible for enrollment in the program.
(c) If feasible, the commission shall operate the
demonstration project established under this section in
conjunction with the demonstration project established under
Section 32.02614, Human Resources Code.
(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) The commission shall establish a demonstration
project in one or more geographic areas of this state through the
medical assistance program to allow the commission to
simultaneously recertify the eligibility and verify the household
income of each child residing in the same household who is eligible
for medical assistance under this chapter.
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
determine the scope of, and eligibility for participation in, the
demonstration project. The rules adopted by the executive
commissioner under this subsection shall ensure that the household
income of each child participating in the demonstration project is
verified:
(1) not more than twice during the 12-month period
during which a child remains eligible to receive medical assistance
program benefits, including at the time eligibility under the
program is recertified; and
(2) at the same time as each other child residing in
the same household who is eligible for medical assistance program
benefits.
(c) If feasible, the commission shall operate the
demonstration project established under this section in
conjunction with the demonstration project established under
Section 62.1025, Health and Safety Code.
(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 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.