HBA-CMT H.B. 98 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 98 By: Maxey Public Health 2/2/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, children in the foster care system are eligible for medical assistance through Medicaid. At age 18 these children move from their foster families, group homes, or residential treatment centers directly into independent living and often lose their health care coverage. The federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 provides states with the option of providing Medicaid coverage to a person who is 18 to 21 years old making the transition out of foster care. House Bill 98 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to provide medical assistance to these independent foster care adolescents. 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 98 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide medical assistance, in accordance with HHSC rules, to an independent foster care adolescent who is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance and who HHSC determines is not covered by a health benefits plan offering adequate benefits. The bill prohibits HHSC from considering an independent foster care adolescent's income, assets, or resources in determining whether the person is eligible for medical assistance. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.