HBA-MPM H.B. 826 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 826
By: Gray
Public Health
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Nearly 600,000 low-income children in Texas are eligible for health
benefits under the Medicaid program, yet remain unenrolled.  The Texas
Medicaid program requires families to meet a restrictive "assets test" that
disqualifies families with more than $2,000 in assets, excluding a home and
one car.  The value of a second car that is appraised at more than $4,650
is counted against the family's assets limit.  This means that families
with two working parents sometimes have to choose between health care for
their children and having a second car to drive to work.  House Bill 826
eliminates the assets test when determining Medicaid eligibility for
children under 19.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 826 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and
Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the medical
assistance program to the extent allowed by federal law from considering
the assets and resources of a person younger than 19 years old or those of
the person's parents or caretaker in determining the person's eligibility
to receive medical assistance. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.