By Kitchen                                            H.B. No. 2069
         77R5683 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a study regarding the feasibility of providing medical
 1-3     assistance to certain disabled children.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  STUDY. (a)  The commissioner of health and human
 1-6     services shall conduct a study regarding the feasibility of
 1-7     expanding the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human
 1-8     Resources Code, to provide medical assistance to disabled children
 1-9     18 years of age or younger in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section
1-10     1396a(e)(3), as amended.
1-11           (b)  In conducting the study, the commissioner shall
1-12     evaluate:
1-13                 (1)  the number of children who would be eligible for
1-14     medical assistance under 42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(e)(3), as amended,
1-15     based on:
1-16                       (A)  the severity of each child's disabilities,
1-17     as  determined by childhood disability standards and evidence
1-18     requirements established for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (42
1-19     U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.); and
1-20                       (B)  a determination of whether each disabled
1-21     child requires the level of care provided in a hospital, skilled
1-22     nursing facility, or intermediate care facility;
1-23                 (2)  the effect of other health insurance coverage
1-24     provided for children who would be eligible for medical assistance,
 2-1     as determined by Subdivision (1), on the cost of expanding the
 2-2     medical assistance program;
 2-3                 (3)  utilization patterns of similar populations of
 2-4     disabled children under similar programs in this state and other
 2-5     states;
 2-6                 (4)  the cost to the state of inappropriate
 2-7     institutionalization of disabled children in hospitals, nursing
 2-8     facilities, and intermediate care facilities, resulting from
 2-9     unavailability of health insurance coverage for those children; and
2-10                 (5)  options for gradual implementation  of the medical
2-11     assistance program expansion.
2-12           (c)  Not later than December 1, 2002, the commissioner shall
2-13     submit a report to the legislature regarding the results of the
2-14     study conducted under this section.  The report must include a
2-15     recommendation regarding expanding the medical assistance program
2-16     to provide that assistance to disabled children in accordance with
2-17     42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(e)(3), as amended.
2-18           SECTION 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
2-19     1, 2001.