BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 566
By: Deuell
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 3484, enacted by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, authorized the Texas Department of Health to study the establishment of a Medicaid buy-in program in Texas. This program allows persons with disabilities to take employment without losing their Medicaid benefits upon which they rely. The study on this program has been completed by the Texas Department of Health, now the Department of State Health Services, and is ready for implementation.
S.B. 566 requires that the Medicaid buy-in program be implemented.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.02444, as follows:
Sec. 531.02444. MEDICAID BUY-IN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) Requires the executive commissioner (executive commissioner) of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement a Medicaid buy-in program for persons with disabilities as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-170) or the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-33).
(b) Requires the executive commissioner to adopt rules in accordance with federal law that provides for eligibility requirements and cost-sharing or premium payment requirements.
SECTION 2. Provides that no later than December 1, 2005, the executive commissioner of HHSC is required to develop and implement the Medicaid buy-in program under Section 531.02444, Government Code, as added by this Act. Requires the executive commissioner, in developing the program, to consider the proposal for the program developed and submitted to HHSC by the work group on health care options for certain persons with disabilities under Section 531.02443 (Work Group on Health Care Options for Certain Persons with Disabilities), Government Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.