Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB342 by Cortez (Relating to eligibility for the medical assistance program and enrollment in the child health plan program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would authorize HHSC to perform an income check during the sixth month following the date on which a child's eligibility for medical assistance is certified or recertified and requires HHSC to continue to provide medical assistance to a child whose household income is found to exceed the maximum income for eligibility for a period of not less than 30 days, in order to provide the child's parent or guardian with a period of 30 days to provide documentation demonstrating that the child's household income does not exceed the maximum income for eligibility. The bill would require HHSC to automatically enroll a child in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) whose household income is found during the income check to exceed the maximum income for eligibility for the medical assistance program but is eligible for CHIP. The bill would require HHSC to submit certain information to the Legislature in an annual written report.
Based on the LBB's analysis of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.