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.