Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
CHIP
ERVICES/Medicaid /Medicaid and
77 th Texas Legislature
Allows DHS to recertify the eligibility and need for medical assistance of a child under 19 years of age by
telephone or mail instead of through a personal appearance at a DHS office.
Requires DHS to adopt rules to provide for a period of continuous eligibility for a child under 19 years of
age who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance. The rules shall provide that the child remains
eligible for medical assistance, without additional review by the DHS and regardless of changes in the
child’s resources or income, until the earlier of:
• the first anniversary of the date on which the child’s eligibility was determined; or
• the child’s 19 th birthday.
Provides for procedures to ensure that children who are denied Medicaid assistance but are eligible for
enrollment in CHIP have their information promptly transmitted to the child health plan.
Provides for procedures to ensure that a parent or caretaker of a child who will be denied continued
Medicaid assistance because of a failure to keep an appointment is promptly notified of the need to
recertify and the availability of CHIP health care.
Requires DHS to require parents or the guardian of child eligible for Medicaid assistance to attend an inperson
counseling session and accompany the child to a health care provider for a comprehensive
orientation.
Allows HHSC to prohibit a recipient from disenrolling in a managed care plan and enrolling in another
managed care plan during the 12-month period after the recipient initially enrolls in a plan.
Medicaid for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Independent Living - S.B. 51
by Senator Zaffirini
House Sponsors: Representative Maxey, et al.
Currently, youths aged 18 to 21 often lose their Medicaid coverage when they age out of foster care and
have a difficult time obtaining medication and medical services. The federal Foster Care Independence Act
of 1999 gives states new flexibility, funding, and program opportunities to provide assistance to this age
group who are making the transition from foster care to independent living.
Directs the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), or an agency operating part of the medical
assistance program, to extend Medicaid to certain youths aged 18 to 21.
Requires HHSC, or any agency operating part of the medical assistance program, as appropriate, to
provide medical assistance to certain independent foster care adolescents.
Requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to certify the income, assets, or resources
of each individual on the date the individual exits substitute care. Requires an individual qualifying for
Senate Research Center 141