| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the process for determining the Medicaid eligibility of |
|
|
certain former foster care youth. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 32.0247(e) and (f), Human Resources |
|
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
|
|
certify the income, assets, or resources of each individual on the |
|
|
date the individual exits substitute care. An individual |
|
|
qualifying for medical assistance as established by this section |
|
|
shall remain eligible for the maximum period permitted under |
|
|
federal law before any [12 calendar months after certification and
|
|
|
after each] recertification is required. |
|
|
(f) If recertification is required, the [The] |
|
|
recertification process for individuals who are eligible for |
|
|
medical assistance under this section must: |
|
|
(1) comply with Section 32.02472; and |
|
|
(2) [shall] include the option of recertifying online |
|
|
or by mail or phone. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 32.02472 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 32.02472. STREAMLINED ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION |
|
|
PROCESS FOR CERTAIN FORMER FOSTER CARE YOUTH. (a) This section |
|
|
applies to a former foster care youth who is eligible for Medicaid |
|
|
under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), Social Security Act (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)), or any other law. |
|
|
(b) The commission, in consultation with the Department of |
|
|
Family and Protective Services, shall design and implement a |
|
|
streamlined process for determining a former foster care youth's |
|
|
eligibility for Medicaid. The streamlined process must: |
|
|
(1) provide for the automatic enrollment and |
|
|
recertification of a former foster care youth in the STAR Health |
|
|
program, the STAR Medicaid managed care program, or another |
|
|
Medicaid program, as appropriate; |
|
|
(2) be designed to prevent any unnecessary |
|
|
interruption of the youth's Medicaid benefits, including any |
|
|
interruption related to having to recertify the youth for benefits; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(3) if necessary, use a simple application and |
|
|
recertification process that may not require that a youth |
|
|
self-attest or prove that the youth is a resident of this state |
|
|
unless the commission determines that the youth is receiving |
|
|
Medicaid benefits outside of this state. |
|
|
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 September 1, 2019. |