SRC-AXB H.B. 820 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 820
76R3991  KKA-DBy: Naishtat (Zaffirini)
Human Services
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, children of families receiving financial assistance under the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program are provided with
Medicaid coverage relating to the TANF grant. Upon the termination of TANF
benefits, the Medicaid coverage associated with these benefits also
expires. Because many families may not be aware that their children may be
eligible for insurance coverage under a different Medicaid category, their
children go without health insurance or experience gaps in their coverage.
H.B. 820 provides for automatic review of a child's eligibility for medical
assistance if the child's Medicaid benefits are lost due to the loss of the
family's entire TANF grant. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 820 provides for automatic review of a child's
eligibility for medical assistance if the child's Medicaid benefits are
lost due to the loss of the family's entire grant under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, by adding
Section 32.0251, as follows:  

Sec. 32.0251. ELIGIBILITY REVIEW FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.  Requires the Health
and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the medical
assistance program, as appropriate (department) to establish and implement
procedures under which the department automatically reviews a child's
eligibility for medical assistance, if the child originally establishes
eligibility for medical assistance on the basis of receipt of financial
assistance under Chapter 31 (Financial Assistance and Service Programs), as
provided by Section 32.025(a), and that receipt of financial assistance
under Chapter 31 ceases.  Requires the department to ensure that the child
continues to receive medical assistance without a gap in eligibility if the
review required by this section indicates that the child is eligible for
medical assistance on another basis.  

SECTION 2. Emergency clause. 
  Effective date: upon passage.