TITLE: Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment.

SUMMARY: Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.024442 to read as follows: Sec. 531.024442. MEDICAID BUY-IN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WITH INCREASED HOUSEHOLD INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT. (a) The commission shall operate a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients: (1) who are not eligible for a Medicaid buy-in program established under Section 531.02444; and (2) whose eligibility for Medicaid is otherwise being terminated solely because of an increase in household income received from employment. (b) The program under this section must be substantively identical to the Medicaid buy-in programs for persons with disabilities established under Section 531.02444, except to the extent that programmatic differences are appropriate because of the populations served by the programs. (c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules for participation in the program under this section that provide for: (1) eligibility requirements, including household income limits for participation; and (2) requirements for program participants to pay premiums or cost-sharing payments. SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section 531.024442, Government Code, as added by this Act, and the commission shall implement the program required by that section. SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.