Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 831 amends the Human Resources Code to establish a medical assistance buy-in pilot program for certain employed individuals with a medically improved disability. The bill requires the Health and Human Services Commission to develop and implement the program and determine the three pilot sites, with one in an urban area, one in a rural area, and one in the Texas-Mexico border region. The bill authorizes the commission to establish income, assets, and resource limitations for eligibility, and it requires a person participating in the program to pay premiums and other cost-sharing charges.

            The bill requires the commission to evaluate the effectiveness of the demonstration project by December 1, 2002. If the results of the evaluation indicate the program is effective, the commission is required to request continuation or expansion of the program in its budget request for the next fiscal biennium.