Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB72 by White (Relating to the provision of Medicaid benefits to certain children formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. ), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. Additional costs relating to a health benefit subsidy to be paid on behalf of certain adopted children who are eligible for Medicaid but not receiving benefits cannot be determined as the number of children eligible for, but not receiving, Medicaid is unknown.
The agency is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
Based on the LBB's analysis of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), subject to the availability of funds, to provide health benefit subsidies on behalf of adopted children who were in the conservatorship of DFPS at the time of the adoptive placement and who are eligible for Medicaid but not receiving benefits. According to DFPS, the number of children eligible for, but not receiving, Medicaid is unknown; therefore, the cost to provide a $150 subsidy on behalf of those children cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of