79R1973 KEG-D

By:  Naishtat                                                     H.B. No. 710



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to provision of certain optional services for adults and 
operation of the medically needy program under the state Medicaid 
program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 32.024(i), Human Resources Code, as 
amended by Chapters 198 and 1251, Acts of the 78th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2003, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:
	(i)  The [Subject to appropriated state funds, the] 
department in its adoption of rules shall establish a medically 
needy program that serves pregnant women, children, and caretakers 
who have high medical expenses.  At a minimum, the program must 
serve recipients, including adult recipients, in the same manner 
and at the same level that services were provided to recipients 
under the medically needy program during the fiscal biennium ending 
August 31, 2003.
	SECTION 2.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (bb) to read as follows:
	(bb)  The department shall ensure that optional services for 
adults under the medical assistance program, including vision care 
benefits, hearing aids, podiatric services, and chiropractic 
services, are provided at or above the level for which the services 
were funded during the fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2003.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.