88R3180 BDP-D
	By: Johnson	S.B. No. 343

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to all
	individuals for whom federal matching money is available.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 531.02121 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.02121.  EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAID. The
	executive commissioner shall prepare and seek a waiver to the state
	Medicaid plan under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42
	U.S.C. Section 1315) or other applicable federal law to expand to
	the maximum extent permitted by federal law the categories of
	individuals eligible for Medicaid benefits to include all
	individuals for whom federal matching funds are available. The
	waiver must be designed to:
	(1)  maximize the reduction in the number of uninsured
	residents of this state;
	(2)  promote personal responsibility with respect to
	health care;
	(3)  increase the efficiency of the delivery of health
	care services;
	(4)  increase the accessibility of health care
	services; and
	(5)  reduce health care costs.
	SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission shall apply for and actively pursue the waiver
	required by Section 531.02121, Government Code, as added by this
	Act, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or any
	other federal agency. The commission may delay implementing Section
	531.02121, Government Code, as added by this Act, until the waiver
	applied for under this section is granted.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()