79R5308 KLA-D

By:  Deuell                                                       S.B. No. 566



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for employed persons with 
disabilities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 531.02444 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.02444.  MEDICAID BUY-IN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PERSONS 
WITH DISABILITIES.  (a)  The executive commissioner shall 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)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules in 
accordance with federal law that provide for:
		(1)  eligibility requirements for the program;  and                    
		(2)  requirements for participants in the program to 
pay premiums or cost-sharing payments.
	SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2005, the executive 
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall 
develop and implement the Medicaid buy-in program under Section 
531.02444, Government Code, as added by this Act.  In developing the 
program, the executive commissioner shall consider the proposal for 
the program developed and submitted to the Health and Human 
Services Commission by the work group on health care options for 
certain persons with disabilities under Section 531.02443, 
Government Code.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.