87R6074 BDP-F
 
  By: Blanco S.B. No. 1911
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the content of an application for Medicaid.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 32.025(g), Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (g)  The application form adopted under this section must
  include:
               (1)  for an applicant who is pregnant, a question
  regarding whether the pregnancy is the woman's first gestational
  pregnancy; and
               (2)  for all applicants, a question regarding the
  applicant's preferences for being contacted, as follows:
                     "If you are determined eligible for benefits, your
  managed care organization or health plan provider may contact you
  by telephone, text message, or e-mail about health care matters,
  including reminders for appointments and information about
  immunizations or well check visits. All preferred methods of
  contact listed on this application will be shared with your managed
  care organization or health plan provider.
                     If your preferred method of contact about health
  care matters is by electronic communication, including text message
  or e-mail, please be advised that while your managed care
  organization or health plan provider is required to protect the
  security of that communication, because electronic communication
  may not be encrypted there is still a risk of a security breach,
  including the risk of confidential or private information being
  intercepted by an unauthorized third party. By completing the form
  below, you acknowledge that you understand the risks associated
  with and consent to the use of electronic communication.
                     Please indicate below your preferred methods of
  contact in order of preference, with the number 1 being the most
  preferable method:
         (1)  By telephone (if contacted by cellular telephone, the
  call may be autodialed or prerecorded, and your carrier's usage
  rates may apply)? Yes No
         Telephone number: _____________
         Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)
         (2)  By text message (a free autodialed service, but your
  carrier may charge message and data rates)? Yes No
         Cellular telephone number: ______________
         Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)
         (3)  By e-mail? Yes No
         E-mail address: __________________
         Order of preference: 1 2 3 (circle a number)".
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  adopt a revised application form for medical assistance benefits
  that conforms to the requirements of Section 32.025(g), Human
  Resources Code, as amended by this Act.
         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 immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.