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