SRC-TBR S.B. 1305 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1305
77R6583 JAT-DBy: Harris
Health & Human Services
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently Texas children with special health care needs can be covered by
health insurance through the Children with Special Health Care Needs
(CSHCN) program or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  As
proposed, S.B. 1305 refinances expanded services for seriously ill and
disabled children by creating a "wrap-around" program for the expanded
services from CSHCN to CHIP and saving Texas money by increasing federal
matching funds through 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 Chapter 62D, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
62.1515, as follows: 

Sec. 62.1515.  WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE
NEEDS.  (a)  Defines "eligible special health care needs child." 

(b)  Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (commission), in
consultation with the Texas Department of Health, to determine which
services described by Section 35.003(a) are provided to an eligible special
health care needs child as covered benefits under the child health plan and
which services are provided under Chapter 35. 

(c)  Requires the commission, in making the determination under Subsection
(b), and the Texas Department of Health to seek to obtain the maximum
amount of federal matching money for the child health plan and for the
services program for children with special health care needs under Chapter
35. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.