86R14206 MM-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 1839
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain
  veterans and their families.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.02472 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.02472.  EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL
  ASSISTANCE. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission
  shall provide medical assistance to all persons:
               (1)  who are a veteran, as defined by Section 53.001,
  the spouse of a veteran, or the dependent child of a veteran;
               (2)  who apply for the assistance; and
               (3)  for whom federal matching funds are available.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
  to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.02472, Human Resources Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or
  recertification of eligibility of a person for medical assistance
  under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made on or after the date
  the section is implemented, regardless of the date the person
  applied for that assistance.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall take all necessary actions to expand
  eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human
  Resources Code, in accordance with Section 32.02472, Human
  Resources Code, as added by this Act, including notifying
  appropriate federal agencies of that expanded eligibility.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that any other 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.