By Kitchen H.B. No. 2807 77R6050 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a demonstration project to extend Medicaid coverage to 1-3 certain low-income individuals. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 32.053 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 32.053. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR PROVISION OF MEDICAL 1-8 ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. (a) The Health and 1-9 Human Services Commission shall establish a demonstration project 1-10 to provide medical assistance under this chapter to an adult 1-11 individual who: 1-12 (1) has a family income that is at or below 100 1-13 percent of the federal poverty level; 1-14 (2) is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance 1-15 at the time the individual's eligibility for participation in the 1-16 demonstration project is determined; and 1-17 (3) is not covered by a health benefits plan offering 1-18 adequate coverage, as determined by the commission. 1-19 (b) In establishing the demonstration project, the Health 1-20 and Human Services Commission shall ensure that the demonstration 1-21 project is financed using funds made available by certain local 1-22 governmental entities to the commission for matching purposes to 1-23 maximize federal funds for the medical assistance program. 1-24 (c) The Texas Department of Health shall administer the 2-1 demonstration project at the direction of the Health and Human 2-2 Services Commission. 2-3 (d) The Texas Department of Health shall select one or more 2-4 counties, at least one of which has a population of more than 2-5 725,000, in which to implement the demonstration project. 2-6 (e) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, 2-7 the Texas Department of Health shall evaluate the effectiveness, 2-8 including the cost-effectiveness, of the demonstration project in 2-9 providing health care services to project participants. If the 2-10 results of the evaluation indicate that the demonstration project 2-11 is cost-effective, the department shall incorporate a request for 2-12 funding for the continuation or expansion of the demonstration 2-13 project in the department's budget request for the next state 2-14 fiscal biennium. 2-15 (f) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, 2-16 the Texas Department of Health shall submit a report to the 2-17 legislature regarding the operation and cost-effectiveness of the 2-18 demonstration project established under this section. 2-19 SECTION 2. If the Health and Human Services Commission 2-20 determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is 2-21 necessary for implementing any provision of this Act, the 2-22 commission shall request the waiver or authorization not later than 2-23 September 1, 2001, and may delay implementing that provision until 2-24 the waiver or authorization is granted. 2-25 SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2002, the Texas 2-26 Department of Health shall implement the demonstration project 2-27 required by Section 32.053, Human Resources Code, as added by this 3-1 Act. 3-2 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 3-3 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 3-4 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 3-5 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 3-6 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.