HBA-CCH H.B. 1087 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1087
By: Coleman
Public Health
2/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Some disabled individuals who are capable of working may choose not to work
because they lose their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid
eligibility if they earn more than a certain income. Often, people with
disabilities who lose Medicaid benefits cannot afford private insurance
plans.  The federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of
1999 (TWWIIA) authorizes states to allow people with disabilities to buy
into the Medicaid program thereby removing an obstacle for them to sustain
employment.  House Bill 1087 requires the Health and Human Services
Commission to develop and implement a medical buy-in pilot project, under
TWWIIA, so that employed disabled individuals can receive Medicaid
coverage. 

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 1087 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a demonstration project to
implement a medical assistance buy-in program in accordance with the
federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The
project provides medical assistance to an employed individual with a
medically improved disability, who is at least 16 years of age but not
older than 64 years of age, and has an earned income that exceeds the limit
to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but is otherwise eligible to
receive SSI.  H.B. 1087 authorizes HHSC to establish income, assets, and
resource limitations for participation in the demonstration project.  The
bill provides that project participants may pay premiums and other
cost-sharing charges based on income in accordance with federal welfare
law. The bill requires HHSC to evaluate the effectiveness of the
demonstration project in providing health care services to employed persons
with disabilities no later than December 1, 2002.  If the results indicate
that the project is effective, HHSC is required to incorporate a funding
request for the continuation of the program in HHSC's budget request for
the next state fiscal biennium.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.