Bill Caption

Relating to interest lists and eligibility criteria for certain Medicaid waiver programs. 

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 3720, As Engrossed: a NEGATIVE impact of ($6,820,825) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023. 

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriate of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. 

Bill Analysis

HB 3720 would require the health and human services commission to develop, with the Intellectual and Development Disability System Redesign Advisory Committee, a questionnaire for individuals who are on an interest list for any Medicaid waiver program. This questionnaire would be required to include general demographic information; contact information; current caregiver supports and circumstances; types of assistance needed; the individual's living arrangement; caregiver supports and their risks; and when services should begin. 

HB 3720 would require all individuals on an interest list to annually complete this questionnaire to request placement on a waiver program interest list; and complete and update the questionnaire. If such an individual fails to maintain contact with the commission, the commission would: designate the individual's status as inactive until the individual contacts the commission, when the individual would become active again. HB 3720 would not allow an inactive status to result in the removal of the individual for the list or any other waiver program interest list. 

HB 3720 would require a child who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) whose parents express interest in placing the child on the interest list for the Medically Dependent Children (MDCP) waiver program to be medical assessment by the commission to ensure the child is eligible for services before being placed on the interest list. 

HB 3720 would update the Eligibility for Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Waiver program. HB 3720 would allow an individual financial eligibility to participate in the program if their income is not more than the special income limit established by the commission. Medical eligibility would be expanded to include individuals who: have a primary diagnosis of a related condition; and has moderate to extreme deficits in adaptive behavior. 

Related conditions refer to conditions attributed to cerebral palsy or epilepsy; or any other condition, other than mental illness, found to be closely related to intellectual disability; is manifested before the individual reaches 22 years of age; is likely to continue indefinitely; and results in substantial function limitation in major areas of life activity. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 3720 seeks to streamline waiver requirements for Medicaid recipients, which would make the program more efficient. The cost to do this however is not insignificant. Texas Action is cautiously neutral on HB 3720.