Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2963 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R5305 MM-F
2	2	By: Klick H.B. No. 2963
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the process for determining the Medicaid eligibility of
8	8	certain former foster care youth.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Sections 32.0247(e) and (f), Human Resources
11	11	Code, are amended to read as follows:
12	12	(e) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall
13	13	certify the income, assets, or resources of each individual on the
14	14	date the individual exits substitute care. An individual
15	15	qualifying for medical assistance as established by this section
16	16	shall remain eligible for the maximum period permitted under
17	17	federal law before any [12 calendar months after certification and
18	18	after each] recertification is required.
19	19	(f) If recertification is required, the [The]
20	20	recertification process for individuals who are eligible for
21	21	medical assistance under this section must:
22	22	(1) comply with Section 32.024715; and
23	23	(2) [shall] include the option of recertifying online
24	24	or by mail or phone.
25	25	SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
26	26	is amended by adding Section 32.024715 to read as follows:
27	27	Sec. 32.024715. STREAMLINED ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
28	28	PROCESS FOR CERTAIN FORMER FOSTER CARE YOUTH. (a) This section
29	29	applies to a former foster care youth who is eligible for Medicaid
30	30	under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), Social Security Act (42
31	31	U.S.C. Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)), or any other law.
32	32	(b) The commission, in consultation with the Department of
33	33	Family and Protective Services, shall design and implement a
34	34	streamlined process for determining a former foster care youth's
35	35	eligibility for Medicaid. The streamlined process must:
36	36	(1) provide for the automatic enrollment and
37	37	recertification of a former foster care youth in the STAR Health
38	38	program, the STAR Medicaid managed care program, or another
39	39	Medicaid program, as appropriate;
40	40	(2) be designed to prevent any unnecessary
41	41	interruption of the youth's Medicaid benefits, including any
42	42	interruption related to having to recertify the youth for benefits;
43	43	and
44	44	(3) if recertification is required under federal law,
45	45	use a simple application and recertification process that:
46	46	(A) to the extent permitted by federal law, does
47	47	not require that a youth verify that the youth is a resident of this
48	48	state unless the commission determines that the youth is receiving
49	49	Medicaid benefits outside of this state; or
50	50	(B) if federal law requires that a youth verify
51	51	that the youth is a resident of this state, allows the youth to
52	52	attest to that fact without providing additional documentation or
53	53	evidence that proves the youth is a resident of this state.
54	54	SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an
55	55	initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person
56	56	for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made
57	57	on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of the date
58	58	the person applied for that assistance.
59	59	SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act
60	60	a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
61	61	federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
62	62	the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
63	63	authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
64	64	waiver or authorization is granted.
65	65	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.