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.