87R4575 MM-D
By: Larson H.B. No. 1730
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to all
persons for whom federal matching money is available.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.02473 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.02473. EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission
shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that
assistance and for whom federal matching money is available.
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules regarding
the provision of medical assistance as required by this section.
SECTION 2. Section 32.02473, Human Resources Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or
recertification of eligibility of a person for medical assistance
under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made on or after the date
the section is implemented, regardless of the date the person
applied for that assistance.
SECTION 3. As soon as possible after the effective date of
this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall take all necessary actions to expand
eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human
Resources Code, in accordance with Section 32.02473, Human
Resources Code, as added by this Act, including notifying
appropriate federal agencies of that expanded eligibility. If
before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency
determines that any other 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 January 1, 2022, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 87th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2021, requiring the state to expand eligibility
for Medicaid to all persons for whom federal matching money is
available is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not
approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.