Bill Text: TX HB1879 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women program.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-06 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1879 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1879-Introduced.html

---

86R6320 KKR-D
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1879

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in Medicaid
and the Healthy Texas Women and CHIP perinatal programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 531.0997 and 531.09971 to read as
follows:
Sec. 531.0997. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN WOMEN IN
HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "Healthy Texas
Women program" means a program operated by the commission that is
substantially similar to the demonstration project operated under
former Section 32.0248, Human Resources Code, and that is intended
to expand access to preventive health and family planning services
for women in this state.
(b) Subject to the eligibility requirements of the Healthy
Texas Women program, the commission shall identify and
automatically enroll in the program a woman who is a Medicaid
recipient or enrollee in the child health plan program but who will
lose eligibility for benefits under the applicable program because
of the woman's age. The commission shall implement the automatic
enrollment in a manner that:
(1) ensures a seamless transition in the provision of
services between Medicaid or the child health plan program, as
applicable, and the Healthy Texas Women program; and
(2) allows a woman to begin receiving services through
the Healthy Texas Women program on the first day the woman is no
longer eligible for Medicaid or the child health plan program, as
applicable.
(c) The commission shall, at the time a woman is
automatically enrolled under Subsection (b) in the Healthy Texas
Women program:
(1) provide to the woman written notice that:
(A) she has been automatically enrolled in the
program but may disenroll; and
(B) instructs the woman on how to disenroll from
the program; and
(2) provide to the woman information about the
program, including the services provided under the program.
(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section.
Sec. 531.09971. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN WOMEN IN
MEDICAID OR CHIP PERINATAL PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "CHIP perinatal program" means the perinatal
program operated under the child health plan program established
under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Healthy Texas Women program" has the meaning
assigned by Section 531.0997.
(b) The commission shall identify and automatically enroll
in Medicaid or the CHIP perinatal program, as applicable, a woman
who:
(1) becomes pregnant while receiving services through
the Healthy Texas Women program; and
(2) is eligible for Medicaid or the CHIP perinatal
program.
(c) The commission shall implement the automatic enrollment
in a manner that:
(1) ensures a seamless transition in the provision of
services between the Healthy Texas Women program and Medicaid or
the CHIP perinatal program, as applicable; and
(2) allows a woman to begin receiving services through
Medicaid or the CHIP perinatal program, as applicable, on the first
day the woman is enrolled in the program.
(d) The commission shall, at the time a woman is
automatically enrolled under Subsection (b) in Medicaid or the CHIP
perinatal program, as applicable:
(1) provide to the woman written notice that:
(A) she has been automatically enrolled in the
applicable program but may disenroll; and
(B) instructs the woman on how to disenroll from
the program; and
(2) provide to the woman information about the
program, including the services provided under the program.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
woman who is a recipient of medical assistance under Chapter 32,
Human Resources Code, benefits through the child health plan
program under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, or services
through the Healthy Texas Women program, on or after the effective
date of this Act, regardless of the date on which eligibility for
medical assistance, the child health plan program, or the Healthy
Texas Women program was determined.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization, including
a state plan amendment, 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 September 1, 2019.