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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to all |
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individuals for whom federal matching money is available. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02121 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02121. EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAID. The |
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executive commissioner shall prepare and seek a waiver to the state |
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Medicaid plan under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1315) or other applicable federal law to expand to |
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the maximum extent permitted by federal law the categories of |
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individuals eligible for Medicaid benefits to include all |
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individuals for whom federal matching funds are available. The |
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waiver must be designed to: |
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(1) maximize the reduction in the number of uninsured |
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residents of this state; |
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(2) promote personal responsibility with respect to |
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health care; |
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(3) increase the efficiency of the delivery of health |
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care services; |
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(4) increase the accessibility of health care |
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services; and |
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(5) reduce health care costs. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall apply for and actively pursue the waiver |
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required by Section 531.02121, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or any |
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other federal agency. The commission may delay implementing Section |
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531.02121, Government Code, as added by this Act, until the waiver |
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applied for under this section is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |