80R5605 ABC-D

By: Dukes H.B. No. 322

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 322:

By: Rose C.S.H.B. No. 322

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study regarding the costs and benefits of providing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid to certain individuals with disabilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. STUDY REGARDING COSTS AND BENEFITS OF PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall conduct a study to determine the costs and benefits to this state of providing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid to each person who:

(1) appears to meet the income and asset limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.;

(2) does not receive those benefits; and

(3) is disabled, provided that the process for determining whether the person is disabled meets the requirements of 42 C.F.R. 435.540 and 435.541.

(b) The study shall examine:

(1) the administrative costs this state would incur in providing the presumptive eligibility for Medicaid to persons described by Subsection (a) of this section;

(2) other costs associated with providing the presumptive eligibility; and

(3) the benefits to this state and to political subdivisions of this state of providing the presumptive eligibility, including:

(A) the savings that would be realized by allowing persons given presumptive eligibility for Medicaid to access health care services through Medicaid providers rather than local hospital emergency rooms; and

(B) the additional federal Medicaid funds that would be available to this state if the presumptive eligibility were provided.

(c) Not later than October 1, 2008, the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the Medicaid program a report on the costs and benefits of providing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid to persons described by Subsection (a) of this section. The report must include a description of any legislation necessary to provide the presumptive eligibility to those persons.

SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.