AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System can identify Medicaid beneficiaries who are also low-income veterans, active duty service members, and families of such veterans and members who may qualify for United States Department of Veterans Affairs and military health coverage benefits, including long-term care and prescription drugs.  Interested parties assert that state funds could be saved by assisting Medicaid-eligible veterans in applying for such benefits because the cost and responsibility of the veterans’ health care is transferred to the federal government.

 

H.B. 2562 amends current law relating to an annual report on the Public Assistance Reporting Information System.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 531.0998(e), Government Code, as follows:

 

(e) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), the Veterans' Land Board, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services collectively, not later than October 1 of each year, rather than October 1, 2012, to submit to the legislature, the governor, and the Legislative Budget Board a report describing:

 

(1)  interagency progress in identifying and obtaining Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for veterans receiving Medicaid and other public benefit programs, rather than the frequency and success with which state agencies have used the system;

 

(2)  the number of veterans benefits claims awarded, the total dollar amount of veterans benefits claims awarded, and the costs to the state that were avoided as a result of state agencies' use of the system;

 

(3)  efforts to expand the use of the system and improve the effectiveness of shifting veterans from Medicaid and other public benefits to VA benefits, including any barriers and how state agencies have addressed those barriers; and

 

(4)  the extent to which TVC has targeted specific populations of veterans, including populations in rural counties and in specific age and service-connected disability categories, in order to maximize benefits for veterans and savings to the state, rather than recommendations for future use of the system by state agencies.

 

SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 531.0998(f) (relating to providing that Subsection (e) and this subsection expire September 1, 2013), Government Code.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.