HBA-MSH, CCH C.S.H.B. 1087 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1087
By: Coleman
Public Health
3/19/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



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.  C.S.H.B.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

C.S.H.B. 1087 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a demonstration project to
implement in three sites a medical assistance buy-in program in accordance
with the federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
(TWWIIA) 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.  C.S.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. The bill requires HHSC to
request and actively pursue the award of a federal grant authorized by the
TWWIIA to support the design, establishment, and operation of
infrastructures in the state that provide support services for employed
persons with disabilities.  
EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1087 differs from the original by requiring the Health and Human
Services Commission (HHSC) to implement the pilot program in three sites
and requiring HHSC to apply for and actively pursue the award of a federal
grant authorized by TWWIIA.