By: Watson S.B. No. 2110
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the process for determining the Medicaid eligibility of
certain former foster care youth.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 32.0247(e) and (f), Human Resources
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(e) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall
certify the income, assets, or resources of each individual on the
date the individual exits substitute care. An individual
qualifying for medical assistance as established by this section
shall remain eligible for the maximum period permitted under
federal law before any [12 calendar months after certification and
after each] recertification is required.
(f) If recertification is required, the [The]
recertification process for individuals who are eligible for
medical assistance under this section must:
(1) comply with Section 32.02472; and
(2) [shall] include the option of recertifying online
or by mail or phone.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.02472 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.02472. STREAMLINED ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
PROCESS FOR CERTAIN FORMER FOSTER CARE YOUTH. (a) This section
applies to a former foster care youth who is eligible for Medicaid
under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)), or any other law.
(b) The commission, in consultation with the Department of
Family and Protective Services, shall design and implement a
streamlined process for determining a former foster care youth's
eligibility for Medicaid. The streamlined process must:
(1) provide for the automatic enrollment and
recertification of a former foster care youth in the STAR Health
program, the STAR Medicaid managed care program, or another
Medicaid program, as appropriate;
(2) be designed to prevent any unnecessary
interruption of the youth's Medicaid benefits, including any
interruption related to having to recertify the youth for benefits;
and
(3) if necessary, use a simple application and
recertification process that may not require that a youth
self-attest or prove that the youth is a resident of this state
unless the commission determines that the youth is receiving
Medicaid benefits outside of this state.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.