SRC-CTC S.B. 375 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 375
77R499 CLG-DBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
2/13/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the application and eligibility process for children's Medicaid
requires a face-to-face interview and an assets test.  As proposed, S.B.
375 eliminates these requirements to streamline the process for children to
apply for medical assistance. 

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, to require the
Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the
medical assistance program (department) to adopt application forms and
procedures for medical assistance requests  provided to a person younger
than 19 years of age (child) that are similar to the application forms and
procedures adopted under Section 62.103 (Application Form and Procedures),
Health and Safety Code, as allowed by federal law and provided for by this
section.  Requires the department to permit an application requesting
medical assistance for a child be made by mail. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 32.026, Human Resources Code, to require the
department, while adopting rules under this section, to ensure that
documentation and verification procedures used in determining and
certifying a child's eligibility and need for medical assistance be similar
to 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, as permitted by federal law.  Requires the department to
permit a recertification of a child's eligibility and need for medical
assistance be done by telephone or mail. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, to add Section
32.02415, as follows: 

Sec. 32.02415. EXCLUSION OF ASSETS AND RESOURCES.  Prohibits the
department, to the extent allowed by federal law, from considering the
assets or resources of a child or the child's parents or caretakers for the
purpose of determining the child's eligibility for medical assistance. 

SECTION 4.  Requires a state agency, if it is determined by the state
agency that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary
for the implementation of any provision of this Act, to request the waiver
or authorization and authorizes a delay in the implementation of that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 5.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.