SRC-CDH S.B. 56 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 56 By: Zaffirini Health and Human Services 1-27-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, in order to participate in the County Indigent Health Care Program, counties contribute local matching funds to draw state matching funds assistance. However, these same funds cannot be counted towards the counties' Medicaid match, even though both programs exist to serve the medically indigent. This bill allows the local match to count toward Medicaid if the county executes an interagency agreement with the agency that administers the state's Medicaid program. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 56 establishes eligibility for state matching funds assistance under the indigent health care law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Department of Human Services in SECTION 1 (Section 61.036(d), Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.036, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (d), to authorize a county, regardless of eligibility standards set by the Texas Department of Human Services under Subchapter A, to report Medicaid eligible expenditures as a credit toward that entity's eligibility for state matching funds assistance if a county executes an interagency agreement with the agency that administers the state's Medicaid program. Requires the department, by rule, to provide for implementation of this subsection. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.