By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2435
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing the supporting medically fragile children
  program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter I to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I.  SUPPORTING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN PROGRAM
         Sec. 32.401.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Program" means the supporting medically fragile
  children program established under this subchapter.
               (2)  "Section 1915(c) waiver program" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code.
               (3)  "STAR Kids managed care program" means the STAR
  Kids managed care program operated under Section 533.00253,
  Government Code.
         Sec. 32.402.  SUPPORTING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN
  PROGRAM. (a)  The commission shall develop and implement a program
  to provide financial assistance to eligible recipients who are in
  need of the assistance for purposes of receiving or continuing
  necessary health care services that have been delayed or denied
  under Medicaid, including care that has been denied pending appeal.
  Financial assistance under the program must be provided in the form
  of direct reimbursements to health care providers.
         (b)  In establishing the program, the commission shall:
               (1)  consult with appropriate stakeholders to
  determine:
                     (A)  application and eligibility requirements for
  receiving financial assistance under the program; and
                     (B)  how providers will be reimbursed with
  financial assistance granted through the program; and
               (2)  designate a person within the commission to act as
  an ombudsman for the program and as a point of contact for
  recipients, recipients' families, and health care providers.
         Sec. 32.403.  ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS. To be eligible for
  assistance under the program, a recipient must be receiving
  benefits under:
               (1)  a Section 1915(c) waiver program, including:
                     (A)  the Medically Dependent Children Program
  (MDCP);
                     (B)  the Community Living Assistance and Support
  Services (CLASS) waiver program;
                     (C)  the Home and Community-based Services (HCS)
  waiver program; and
                     (D)  the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities
  (DBMD) waiver program; or
               (2)  the STAR Kids managed care program.
         Sec. 32.404.  SUPPORTING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN
  ACCOUNT. (a) The supporting medically fragile children account is
  an account in the general revenue fund.
         (b)  The account consists of:
               (1)  appropriations of money to the account by the
  legislature;
               (2)  gifts, grants, including federal grants, and other
  donations received under Section 32.405; and
               (3)  interest earned on the investment of money in the
  account.
         (c)  Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
  commission for purposes of the program.
         (d)  The account is exempt from the application of Section
  404.071, Government Code.
         Sec. 32.405.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The commission
  may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source that are
  made for the purposes of the program. The commission shall deposit
  to the credit of the account money received under this section.
         Sec. 32.406.  RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt
  rules necessary to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.