HB 2924

relating to Medicaid reimbursement for certain costs incurred while
a chronically ill Medicaid recipient who is a child receives
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0318 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0318.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO
HOSPITAL CARE FOR CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter
(2)  "Medicaid managed care organization" has the
meaning assigned by Section 521.0001, Government Code.
(3)  "Recipient" means a recipient of medical
assistance regardless of whether that assistance is provided
through a fee-for-service or managed care model or through another
(b)  Subject to the requirements of this subsection, the
commission shall ensure that medical assistance reimbursement is
provided for the costs of food purchased from and parking at a
hospital at which a recipient is hospitalized or otherwise
receiving health care services.  To be eligible for medical
(1)  the costs must be incurred and paid during the
recipient's period of hospitalization or receipt of health care
services by a parent, guardian, or caretaker of the recipient; and
(A)  be younger than 18 years of age;
(B)  have been diagnosed with a chronic illness
designated by the executive commissioner; and
(C)  be hospitalized or receiving health care
services at the hospital for that chronic illness.
(c)  The executive commissioner may require that a Medicaid
managed care organization provide reimbursement under this section
to a recipient who is enrolled in a Medicaid managed care plan
(d)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section, including rules:
(1)  designating the diagnoses considered chronic
illnesses for purposes of reimbursement under this section; and
(2)  establishing reasonable limits on reimbursement
SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.