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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to demonstration projects to coordinate eligibility |
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renewal and eligibility recertification for certain children in the |
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Medicaid and child health plan programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 62, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 62.1025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.1025. ELIGIBILITY RENEWAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. |
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(a) The commission shall establish a demonstration project in one |
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or more geographic areas of this state through the child health plan |
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program to allow the commission to simultaneously renew the |
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eligibility and review the household income of each child residing |
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in the same household who is eligible for enrollment in the program. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to |
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determine the scope of, and eligibility for participation in, the |
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demonstration project. The rules adopted by the executive |
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commissioner under this subsection shall ensure that the household |
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income of each child participating in the demonstration project is |
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reviewed: |
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(1) not more than twice during the 12-month period |
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during which a child remains eligible to receive child health plan |
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program benefits, including at the time eligibility under the |
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program is renewed; and |
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(2) at the same time as each other child residing in |
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the same household who is eligible for enrollment in the program. |
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(c) If feasible, the commission shall operate the |
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demonstration project established under this section in |
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conjunction with the demonstration project established under |
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Section 32.02614, Human Resources Code. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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submit a report to the legislature regarding the commission's |
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progress in establishing and operating the demonstration project |
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and recommendations on continuing or expanding the demonstration |
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project. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.02614 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.02614. ELIGIBILITY RECERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATION |
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PROJECT. (a) The commission shall establish a demonstration |
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project in one or more geographic areas of this state through the |
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medical assistance program to allow the commission to |
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simultaneously recertify the eligibility and verify the household |
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income of each child residing in the same household who is eligible |
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for medical assistance under this chapter. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to |
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|
determine the scope of, and eligibility for participation in, the |
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|
demonstration project. The rules adopted by the executive |
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|
commissioner under this subsection shall ensure that the household |
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|
income of each child participating in the demonstration project is |
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|
verified: |
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|
(1) not more than twice during the 12-month period |
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|
during which a child remains eligible to receive medical assistance |
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|
program benefits, including at the time eligibility under the |
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|
program is recertified; and |
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|
(2) at the same time as each other child residing in |
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the same household who is eligible for medical assistance program |
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benefits. |
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(c) If feasible, the commission shall operate the |
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|
demonstration project established under this section in |
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|
conjunction with the demonstration project established under |
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Section 62.1025, Health and Safety Code. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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submit a report to the legislature regarding the commission's |
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progress in establishing and operating the demonstration project |
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and recommendations on continuing or expanding the demonstration |
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project. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall implement the eligibility renewal |
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and eligibility recertification demonstration projects required by |
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Section 62.1025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, and |
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Section 32.02614, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |