Healthcare Coverage of Telemedicine

This bill, if it passes, will open up who can get Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

• Medicaid: A government program that helps pay for doctor visits, medicine, and hospital care for people who don’t make a lot of money

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: a law that helps people get health insurance so they can see a doctor, get medicine, and stay healthy. It also makes sure insurance companies treat people fairly and don’t charge too much for care.

• If this bill passes, part of the Human Resources Code about who can get help with medical costs will be updated.

  • Human Resources Code: A set of rules that explains how the government helps people with jobs, healthcare, housing, and other basic needs.

• This bill:

  • Tells the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, a group that supports disabled people in getting jobs and living in their community, to also give help with medical costs to everyone who needs it.

  • Says that the leader of the commission needs to set up rules for getting medical help to those who need it.

  • Says that there must be a write up every year on how opening up who can get Medicaid is affecting things.

    • This write up must be turned in by December 1 each year for important state leaders and groups.

    • The write up should include:

      • The number of people without health insurance.

      • How much health care costs in Texas and costs from the general revenue fund, which is like a state bank account, where the state keeps the money it makes.

      • Local health care costs.

      • Charity care and out-of-pocket costs for hospitals.

  • Makes the leader of the commission take steps to open up who can get Medicaid after the start date.

• Money from the federal government is needed according to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

• Starting January 1, 2026, the rules in the updated part of the Human Resources Code will apply to new Medicaid decisions and renewals made afterwards.

• State offices might hold off on starting these changes until they get the permission that they need. 

• This act starts on January 1, 2026.