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.