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.