outreach campaign telling mixed-status families who qualifies for Medicaid

The text as introduced · 335 words

89R2984 MM-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 179

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a public outreach and education campaign for

mixed-status families regarding eligibility for Medicaid and the

child health plan program.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 545, Government Code, as

effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 545.0059 to

read as follows:

Sec. 545.0059. PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN FOR MIXED-STATUS

FAMILIES ON MEDICAID AND CHILD HEALTH PLAN PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.

(a) In this section, "mixed-status family" means a family in which

one or more members is not a citizen or national of the United

States and one or more members is a citizen or national of the

United States.

(b) The commission shall conduct a public outreach and

education campaign designed to educate and inform mixed-status

families about eligibility requirements under Medicaid and the

child health plan program. The campaign must:

(1) clearly explain the programs' eligibility

requirements relating to residency and citizenship status,

including the programs' eligibility requirements for citizens,

qualified aliens, and lawful permanent residents;

(2) inform individuals that a child's receipt of

benefits under a program will not affect the immigration status of

the child's parent;

(3) be tailored to the population targeted by the

campaign, including by providing information in English and Spanish

or another language spoken by the majority of the targeted

population; and

(4) be disseminated through methods designed to reach

the targeted population, including by:

(A) distributing information and providing

presentations at health fairs; and

(B) working with relevant organizations or

groups, including community clinics.

(c) To support the campaign conducted under this section,

the commission shall develop informational material about Medicaid

and child health plan program eligibility criteria relating to

residency and citizenship status that is:

(1) up-to-date;

(2) clear and easy to understand; and

(3) made available in English and Spanish or another

language spoken by the majority of a targeted population.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.