bill creating hospital grants for families’ food and parking costs

The text as introduced · 481 words

89R2987 KKR-D

By: Simmons
H.B. No. 2925

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program for hospitals to assist with certain

costs incurred by families of chronically ill children receiving

hospital care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 526, Government Code, as

effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 526.0061 to

read as follows:

Sec. 526.0061. GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS TO ASSIST WITH

CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO CARE PROVIDED TO CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Grant program" means the grant program for

hospitals to assist with certain costs related to care provided to

chronically ill children established under this section.

(2) "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter

241, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and

the commission shall administer a grant program for hospitals to

assist families of chronically ill children with the costs of food

and parking while a child receives health care services related to

the child's chronic illness at a hospital.

(c) The rules adopted by the executive commissioner

establishing the grant program under this section must include

rules:

(1) prescribing eligibility criteria, application

procedures, and a scoring system for awarding grants under the

grant program to eligible hospitals; and

(2) designating the diagnoses considered chronic

illnesses for purposes of the grant program.

(d) A hospital may provide money awarded under the grant

program only:

(1) to a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child who:

(A) is diagnosed with a chronic illness

designated by the executive commissioner; and

(B) meets the financial eligibility requirements

for Medicaid; and

(2) for the purpose of reimbursing the parent,

guardian, or caretaker for the actual costs incurred for parking at

and purchasing food from the hospital at which the chronically ill

child is hospitalized or otherwise receives care for the chronic

illness.

(e) The commission shall award grants as provided by this

section from available money, including money appropriated for the

purpose of the grant program.

(f) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations

from any source for the purpose of the grant program.

(g) Beginning on the first anniversary of the date a

hospital is awarded money under the grant program, the hospital

shall annually submit to the commission a written report detailing

the use of grant money the hospital received under the program and

related outcomes as determined by the executive commissioner.

(h) The commission shall review the grant program at least

once every four years and determine whether the program should be

continued or modified.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section

526.0061, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.