| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a county mental health services Medicaid waiver |
|
|
program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 531.0226 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 531.0226. COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MEDICAID |
|
|
WAIVER PROGRAM. (a) If feasible and cost-effective, the commission |
|
|
may apply for a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and |
|
|
Medicaid Services or another appropriate federal agency to more |
|
|
efficiently leverage the use of state and local funds in order to |
|
|
maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid matching funds by |
|
|
providing counties in the state with the flexibility to provide |
|
|
benefits under the Medicaid program to individuals who: |
|
|
(1) have a net family income that is at or below 200 |
|
|
percent of the federal poverty level; and |
|
|
(2) are eligible to receive mental health services |
|
|
through the county. |
|
|
(b) In establishing the waiver program under this section, |
|
|
the commission shall: |
|
|
(1) ensure that the state is a prudent purchaser of the |
|
|
health care services that are needed for the individuals described |
|
|
by Subsection (a); |
|
|
(2) solicit broad-based input from interested |
|
|
persons; |
|
|
(3) ensure that the benefits received by an individual |
|
|
through the county are not reduced once the individual is enrolled |
|
|
in the waiver program; and |
|
|
(4) employ the use of intergovernmental transfers and |
|
|
other procedures to maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid |
|
|
matching funds. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
|
|
last day of the legislative session. |