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.