89R2987 KKR-D
By: Simmons H.B. No. 2925
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program for hospitals to assist with certain
costs incurred by families of chronically ill children receiving
hospital care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 526, Government Code, as
effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 526.0061 to
read as follows:
Sec. 526.0061. GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS TO ASSIST WITH
CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO CARE PROVIDED TO CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Grant program" means the grant program for
hospitals to assist with certain costs related to care provided to
chronically ill children established under this section.
(2) "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter
241, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and
the commission shall administer a grant program for hospitals to
assist families of chronically ill children with the costs of food
and parking while a child receives health care services related to
the child's chronic illness at a hospital.
(c) The rules adopted by the executive commissioner
establishing the grant program under this section must include
rules:
(1) prescribing eligibility criteria, application
procedures, and a scoring system for awarding grants under the
grant program to eligible hospitals; and
(2) designating the diagnoses considered chronic
illnesses for purposes of the grant program.
(d) A hospital may provide money awarded under the grant
program only:
(1) to a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child who:
(A) is diagnosed with a chronic illness
designated by the executive commissioner; and
(B) meets the financial eligibility requirements
for Medicaid; and
(2) for the purpose of reimbursing the parent,
guardian, or caretaker for the actual costs incurred for parking at
and purchasing food from the hospital at which the chronically ill
child is hospitalized or otherwise receives care for the chronic
illness.
(e) The commission shall award grants as provided by this
section from available money, including money appropriated for the
purpose of the grant program.
(f) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations
from any source for the purpose of the grant program.
(g) Beginning on the first anniversary of the date a
hospital is awarded money under the grant program, the hospital
shall annually submit to the commission a written report detailing
the use of grant money the hospital received under the program and
related outcomes as determined by the executive commissioner.
(h) The commission shall review the grant program at least
once every four years and determine whether the program should be
continued or modified.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section
526.0061, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.