By Averitt H.B. No. 1487
76R4993 DLF-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a state child health plan for certain low-income
1-3 children.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 531.076 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 531.076. IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE CHILD HEALTH PLAN.
1-8 (a) In this section, "state child health plan" means a child
1-9 health plan program to obtain health benefits coverage for
1-10 low-income children that qualifies for federal funding under Title
1-11 XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.),
1-12 as amended.
1-13 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, in administering a state
1-14 child health plan, the commission may contract with:
1-15 (1) a third party administrator to provide enrollment
1-16 and related services under the state child health plan; or
1-17 (2) another entity, including the Texas Healthy Kids
1-18 Corporation under Subchapter F, Chapter 109, Health and Safety
1-19 Code, to obtain health benefit plan coverage for children who are
1-20 eligible for coverage under the state child health plan.
1-21 SECTION 2. Chapter 109, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-22 by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
1-23 SUBCHAPTER F. STATE CHILD HEALTH PLAN
1-24 Sec. 109.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
2-1 (1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
2-2 Commission.
2-3 (2) "State child health plan" means a child health
2-4 plan program to obtain health benefits coverage for low-income
2-5 children that qualifies for federal funding under Title XXI of the
2-6 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended.
2-7 Sec. 109.202. STATE CHILD HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE. (a) The
2-8 commission may use appropriated funds, in accordance with the
2-9 General Appropriations Act, to purchase coverage under a health
2-10 benefit plan provided through the corporation for children who are
2-11 eligible for coverage under a state child health plan and to
2-12 contract with the corporation for other services under this
2-13 subchapter.
2-14 (b) State child health plan coverage offered under this
2-15 subchapter must be approved by the commission. The commission shall
2-16 ensure that coverage provided under this subchapter is designed and
2-17 administered in a manner that qualifies for federal funding under
2-18 Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1397aa et
2-19 seq.), as amended, and any other applicable law or regulations.
2-20 Sec. 109.203. ELIGIBILITY. Notwithstanding any other
2-21 provision of this chapter or the eligibility criteria established
2-22 under Section 109.061, an individual who is eligible for coverage
2-23 under the state child health plan, as determined by the commission,
2-24 is eligible for coverage provided through the corporation under
2-25 this subchapter.
2-26 Sec. 109.204. COMMUNITY OUTREACH; ELIGIBILITY SCREENING.
2-27 (a) In connection with offering state child health plan coverage
3-1 under this subchapter, the corporation, under the direction of the
3-2 commission, may:
3-3 (1) conduct a community outreach and education program
3-4 to provide information relating to the availability of health
3-5 benefits for children through the state child health plan and the
3-6 corporation; and
3-7 (2) perform eligibility screening and enrollment
3-8 services.
3-9 (b) The eligibility screening and enrollment procedures used
3-10 by the corporation must:
3-11 (1) comply with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section
3-12 1397bb, as amended, and any other applicable law or regulations;
3-13 and
3-14 (2) ensure that Medicaid-eligible children are
3-15 identified and enrolled in the Medicaid program.
3-16 Sec. 109.205. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) The
3-17 corporation shall report to the commission as required by the
3-18 commission with respect to coverage and services provided under
3-19 this subchapter.
3-20 (b) The commission shall establish a procedure to monitor
3-21 the provision of coverage and services under this subchapter.
3-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-1 passage, and it is so enacted.