| TO: | Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB187 by Deuell (Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for certain children with disabilities.), As Introduced |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2010 | ($233,611) |
| 2011 | ($18,921,003) |
| 2012 | ($40,219,443) |
| 2013 | ($54,540,026) |
| 2014 | ($59,320,318) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from GR Match For Medicaid 758 |
Probable (Cost) from Cost Sharing - Medicaid Clients 8075 |
Probable Revenue Gain from Cost Sharing - Medicaid Clients 8075 |
Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ($233,611) | $0 | $0 | ($233,611) |
| 2011 | ($18,921,003) | ($2,359,269) | $2,359,269 | ($26,668,258) |
| 2012 | ($40,219,443) | ($4,853,156) | $4,853,156 | ($57,135,969) |
| 2013 | ($54,540,026) | ($6,259,775) | $6,259,775 | ($77,613,828) |
| 2014 | ($59,320,318) | ($6,445,804) | $6,445,804 | ($84,453,722) |
| Fiscal Year | Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 18.6 |
| 2012 | 28.9 |
| 2013 | 36.3 |
| 2014 | 38.4 |
This bill would amend Government Code, Section 531.02444 by adding a Medicaid buy-in program for disabled children whose family incomes do not exceed 300 percent of the applicable federal poverty level (FPL). The Health and Human Services Commission would be required to adopt rules for the eligibility requirements and monthly premiums or cost sharing payments according to a sliding scale based on the family’s income consistent with the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009
The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is anticipating that the program would not serve the maximum number of estimated recipients until fiscal year 2013. During fiscal year 2010, HHSC would obtain federal approval, adopt rules, hire and train staff on new policies and conduct outreach. HHSC assumes that current Medicaid and CHIP clients would not be included, since they are receiving health services, but that some children currently receiving services through private insurance would be eligible for and enroll in the buy-in program. HHSC also assumes that most children at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) already receive some services through the Medically Needy program or would gain eligibility through Medicaid or CHIP; therefore they project lower participation rates for this income group of 10% for uninsured and 3% for insured children. For children between 201% and 300% of FPL, the participation rate assumed is 50% for uninsured and 15% for insured children.
The estimated caseload is projected to be 2,412 in FY 2011, 4,868 in FY 2012, 6,149 in FY 2013, and 6,207 in FY 2014. The average monthly cost is approximately the following: $1500 in FY 2011, $1600 in FY 2012, $1750 in FY 2013, and $1880 in FY 2014. The clients would contribute to the cost of care at varying levels: below 150% FPL have no cost sharing, 151-200% FPL have cost sharing at 5% of income, and 201-300% FPL have cost sharing at 7.5% of income. The federal share of cost sharing revenue must be returned to the federal government; these revenues and expenditures are not reflected in the table above.
The non-client services costs include salaries and benefits for full-time equivalents (FTEs), estimated to be 3.4 in FY 2010, 18.6 in FY 2011, 28.9 in FY 2012, 36.3 in FY 2013, and 38.4 in FY 2014. The FTEs needed are projected to increase based on program caseload. Professional services include enrollment broker costs and automation costs, as well as outreach costs to inform potential recipients of the program.
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, MB, LR, ML
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