85R18620 KKR-D

By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1158

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1158:

By: Price C.S.H.B. No. 1158

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the content of an application for Medicaid.

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

SECTION 1. Section 32.025, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:

(g) The application form adopted under this section must include:

(1) for an applicant who is pregnant, a question regarding whether the pregnancy is the woman's first gestational pregnancy; and

(2) a question regarding the applicant's preferences for being contacted, as follows:

"If you are determined eligible for benefits, your managed care organization or health plan provider may contact you by telephone, text message, or e-mail about health care matters, including reminders for appointments and information about immunizations or well check visits. All preferred methods of contact listed on this application will be shared with your managed care organization or health plan provider. Please indicate below your preferred methods of contact in order of preference, with the number 1 being the most preferable method:

(1) By telephone (if contacted by cellular telephone, the call may be autodialed or prerecorded, and your carrier's usage rates may apply)? Yes No

Telephone number: _____________

Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)

(2) By text message (a free autodialed service, but your carrier may charge message and data rates)? Yes No

Cellular telephone number: ______________

Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)

(3) By e-mail? Yes No

E-mail address: __________________

Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)".

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2018, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt a revised application form for medical assistance benefits that conforms to the requirements of Section 32.025(g), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.