H.B. 728 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 728
By: Delisi
State Health Care Expenditures, Select
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Last session, the legislature authorized the extension of continuous
Medicaid eligibility from six months to 12 months.  The resulting cost to
the state would be $702.9 million in state and federal funds for the
2004-2005 biennium.  H.B. 728 would amend state law to retain the
six-month eligibility in tact and postpone the implementation of the
12-month Medicaid eligibility period until fiscal year 2006. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 10 (c), Chapter 584, Acts of the 77th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, by striking the June 1, 2003
implementation date for six-month continuous eligibility for Medicaid.
The year 2005 is inserted in its place, making the transition to six-month
eligibility effective in fiscal year 2006. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This act takes effect September 1, 2003