SRC-MKV S.B. 373 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 373
77R2746 CLG-DBy: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
3/6/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 373 eliminates the face-to-face interview at the time of
initial application for medical assistance for children as well as at the
time of recertification.  This allows families to apply for Medicaid by
mailing in an application, and to recertify eligibility by mail and/or
telephone, and would make the children's Medicaid application and
recertification process the same as the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP). 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 32.025, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsections (d) and (e), as follows: 

(d) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency
operating part of the medical assistance program (department) to adopt
application forms and procedures for a request for medical assistance
provided to a person younger than 19 years of age that are similar to the
forms and procedures adopted under Section 62.103 (Application Forms and
Procedures), Health and Safety Code, to the extent allowed by federal law
and except as otherwise provided by this section. 

(e) Requires the department to permit an application requesting medical
assistance for a person younger than 19 years of age to be made by mail
instead of through a personal appearance at a department office. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 32.026, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsections (d) and (e), as follows: 

(d) Requires the department to ensure, in adopting rules under this
section, to the extent allowed by federal law, that documentation and
verification procedures used in determining and certifying the eligibility
and need for medical assistance of a person younger than 19 years of age
are similar to the procedures used to determine a child's eligibility for
coverage under Chapter 62 (Child Health Plan for Certain Low-Income
Children), Health and Safety Code. 

(e) Requires the department to permit a recertification review of the
eligibility and need for medical assistance of a person younger than 19
years of age to be conducted by telephone or mail instead of through a
personal appearance at a department office. 

SECTION 3.  Requires that, if before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from federal
agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency request the waiver
or authorization and authorizes the delay of implementation of that
provision until the  waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.