SRC-BWC C.S.S.B. 812 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 812
77R9634 SGA-DBy: Carona
Health & Human Services
3-19-2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently in Texas, women seeking preventative health and family services
who are Medicaid clients are only eligible if they are living at or below
17 percent of the federal poverty level.  There are 1.5 million uninsured
women in Texas, and 1 million are living at or below 185 percent of the
federal poverty level.  C.S.S.B. 812 establishes a five-year demonstration
project through the medical assistance program to expand access to
preventive health and family planning services for woman. 

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 Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
32.0247, as follows: 

Sec. 32.0247.  DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE. Requires the
Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the
medical assistance program (department) to establish a five-year
demonstration project through the medical assistance program to expand
access to preventive health and family planning services for women.
Authorizes a woman eligible under this section to participate in the
demonstration project to receive certain preventive health and family
planning services. Provides that a woman is eligible to participate in the
demonstration project under certain circumstances.  Requires the department
to develop procedures for determining and certifying presumptive
eligibility for a woman eligible under this section.  Requires the
department to integrate these procedures with current procedures to
minimize duplication of effort by providers, the department, and other
state agencies.  Requires the department to provide for continuous
eligibility for a woman eligible under this section for the duration of the
demonstration project.  Requires the department to compile a list of
potential funding sources a client can use to help pay for treatment for
certain health problems.  Requires the department, not later than December
1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a report to the legislature
regarding the department's progress in establishing and operating the
demonstration project. Provides that this section expires September 1,
2006. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the state agency responsible for implementing the
demonstration project required by Section 32.0247, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act, to request and actively pursue any necessary waivers or
authorizations from the Health Care Financing Administration or other
appropriate entities to enable the agency to implement the demonstration
project not later than September 1, 2002.  Authorizes the agency to delay
implementing the demonstration project until the necessary waivers or
authorizations are granted.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.

 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Deletes proposed SECTION 1 and adds new text regarding a
demonstration project for women's health care services.   

SECTION 2.  Deletes proposed SECTION 2 and adds text regarding the
responsibilities of the state agency responsible for implementation of the
demonstration project. 

SECTION 3.  Deletes previous text of SECTION 3 regarding the acquisition of
a waiver and provides for the new effective date of this Act. 

Deletes SECTION 4 regarding previous effective date.