HB2925 - Relating to a grant program for hospitals to assist with certain costs incurred by families of chronically ill children receiving hospital care.

  89R2987 KKR-D     By: Simmons H.B. No. 2925       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a grant program for hospitals to assist with certain   costs incurred by families of chronically ill children receiving   hospital care.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 526, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 526.0061 to   read as follows:           Sec.   526.0061.     GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS TO ASSIST WITH   CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO CARE PROVIDED TO CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN.   (a)   In this section:                 (1)     "Grant program" means the grant program for   hospitals to assist with certain costs related to care provided to   chronically ill children established under this section.                 (2)     "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter   241, Health and Safety Code.           (b)     The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and   the commission shall administer a grant program for hospitals to   assist families of chronically ill children with the costs of food   and parking while a child receives health care services related to   the child's chronic illness at a hospital.           (c)     The rules adopted by the executive commissioner   establishing the grant program under this section must include   rules:                 (1)     prescribing eligibility criteria, application   procedures, and a scoring system for awarding grants under the   grant program to eligible hospitals; and                 (2)     designating the diagnoses considered chronic   illnesses for purposes of the grant program.           (d)     A hospital may provide money awarded under the grant   program only:                 (1)  to a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child who:                       (A)     is diagnosed with a chronic illness   designated by the executive commissioner; and                       (B)     meets the financial eligibility requirements   for Medicaid; and                 (2)     for the purpose of reimbursing the parent,   guardian, or caretaker for the actual costs incurred for parking at   and purchasing food from the hospital at which the chronically ill   child is hospitalized or otherwise receives care for the chronic   illness.           (e)     The commission shall award grants as provided by this   section from available money, including money appropriated for the   purpose of the grant program.           (f)     The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations   from any source for the purpose of the grant program.           (g)     Beginning on the first anniversary of the date a   hospital is awarded money under the grant program, the hospital   shall annually submit to the commission a written report detailing   the use of grant money the hospital received under the program and   related outcomes as determined by the executive commissioner.           (h)     The commission shall review the grant program at least   once every four years and determine whether the program should be   continued or modified.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human   Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section   526.0061, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.