SRC-DBM S.B. 664 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 664
76R2077  KLA-DBy: West
Health Services
4/11/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, federal statute allows Medicaid residents in nursing homes to
keep $30 a month for their personal needs.  The recipients of the personal
needs allowance usually use their money for shoes, clothes, toiletries, or
things of this nature.  The personal needs allowance has not been raised in
this state since 1983; however, the cost of living has risen approximately
57 percent since 1983.  S.B. 664 would require the Texas Department of
Human Services  to set a personal needs allowance of not less than $40 per
month for a resident of a convalescent or nursing home or related
institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, personal
care facility, ICF-MR facility, or other similar long-term care facility
which receives medical assistance.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 664 regulates the personal needs allowance for certain
Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities. 

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 Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (v), to require the Texas Department of Human Services
(department) to set a personal needs allowance of not less than $40 per
month for a resident of a convalescent or nursing home or related
institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, personal
care facility, ICF-MR facility, or other similar long-term care facility
which receives medical assistance.  Authorizes the department to send the
personal needs allowance directly to a resident who receives Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.).  Provides that this
subsection does not apply to a resident who is participating in a medical
assistance waiver program administered by the department. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.