By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1554

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2017; March 21, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; April 10, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 10, 2017, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1554 By: Kolkhorst

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a Federal Medicaid Funding and Reform Waivers Legislative Oversight Committee.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 537, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 537. FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING AND REFORM WAIVERS [WAIVER]

SECTION 2. Chapter 537, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 537.001 to read as follows:

Sec. 537.001. FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING AND REFORM WAIVERS LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) In this section:

(1) "Committee" means the Federal Medicaid Funding and Reform Waivers Legislative Oversight Committee created under this section.

(2) "Medicaid block grant funding system" means a system of funding Medicaid that provides for a set total amount of federal financial participation regardless of program enrollment.

(3) "Medicaid per capita cap funding system" means a system of funding Medicaid that provides for a set amount of federal financial participation per Medicaid enrollee, subject to a preset cost adjustment factor.

(b) The Federal Medicaid Funding and Reform Waivers Legislative Oversight Committee is created as provided by this section if:

(1) the federal government authorizes states to opt to receive the federal share of money for the operation of Medicaid through a Medicaid block grant funding system or a Medicaid per capita cap funding system or requires that states receive that money through a Medicaid block grant funding system or a Medicaid per capita cap funding system; or

(2) the executive commissioner seeks a waiver under Section 537.002.

(c) The committee is composed of eight members, as follows:

(1) four members of the senate, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(2) four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the appointing official.

(e) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the committee members.

(f) A member of the committee may not receive compensation for serving on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the committee as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

(g) The committee shall:

(1) facilitate the design and development of:

(A) a Medicaid block grant waiver or Medicaid per capita cap waiver, as applicable, if the federal government authorizes states to opt to receive the federal share of money for the operation of Medicaid through a Medicaid block grant funding system or a Medicaid per capita cap funding system or requires that states receive that money through a Medicaid block grant funding system or a Medicaid per capita cap funding system; or

(B) any waiver sought under Section 537.002;

(2) facilitate a smooth transition from existing Medicaid payment systems and benefit designs to a new model of Medicaid that is enabled by a waiver described by Subdivision (1);

(3) meet at the call of the co-chairs; and

(4) research, take public testimony, and issue reports requested by the lieutenant governor or speaker of the house of representatives.

(h) The committee may request reports and other information from the commission.

(i) The committee shall use existing staff of the senate, the house of representatives, and the Texas Legislative Council to assist the committee in performing its duties under this section.

(j) Chapter 551 applies to the committee.

SECTION 3. 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.

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