Howard Bill Opens Medicaid To Women 19 Through 49

The text as introduced · 339 words

90R2862 CMO-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 389

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain

women of reproductive age.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

is amended by adding Section 32.02473 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.02473. EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

FOR CERTAIN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE. (a) Notwithstanding any

other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to each

woman in this state:

(1) who is of reproductive age, including each woman

who is at least 19 years of age or older but younger than 50 years of

age;

(2) who has a household income that is at or below 133

percent of the federal poverty level;

(3) who applies for the assistance; and

(4) for whom federal matching money is available.

(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary

to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Section 32.02473, Human Resources Code, as added

by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or

recertification of eligibility of an individual for medical

assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made on or after

the date the section is implemented, regardless of the date the

individual applied for that assistance.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

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

Services Commission shall take all necessary actions to expand

eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human

Resources Code, in accordance with Section 32.02473, Human

Resources Code, as added by this Act, including notifying

appropriate federal agencies of that expanded eligibility.

SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act

a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.