Texas House Bill HB2924

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/18/25

Caption

Relating to Medicaid reimbursement for certain costs incurred while a chronically ill Medicaid recipient who is a child receives hospital care.

Impact

If passed, this legislation would create a new reimbursement process under Medicaid for families of eligible children under 18 years old diagnosed with chronic illnesses. The bill requires the executive commissioner to adopt rules specifying which chronic illnesses qualify for reimbursement and establishing limits on the reimbursement amounts. This could lead to a significant financial relief for many families, considering the high costs associated with hospital care for children, especially those with ongoing health issues.

Summary

House Bill 2924 seeks to amend the Human Resources Code to provide specific Medicaid reimbursement for costs incurred by parents or guardians of chronically ill children during hospital care. This bill particularly addresses expenses related to food and parking that parents or guardians must pay while their child is hospitalized. The intent is to alleviate some financial burdens faced by families during such challenging times and ensure that they can focus on the health and wellbeing of their child without worrying excessively about out-of-pocket costs related to hospital visits.

Contention

Notably, the bill may raise discussions regarding state budgeting and the allocation of funds within the Medicaid program. There are potential concerns about the impact on future Medicaid funding, considering the reimbursement stipulations may increase expenditures. Additionally, while the legislation aims to benefit families, there may be debates about which chronic illnesses will be designated for reimbursement and whether those designations will appropriately cover the needs of affected families.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Human Resources Code

• Chapter 32. Medical Assistance Program
  • Section: New Section

Health And Safety Code

• Chapter 241. Hospitals
  • Section: New Section

Government Code

• Chapter 521. General Provisions
  • Section: 0001