Sec. 32.025. APPLICATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

(a) A recipient of benefits under Chapter 31 of this code or supplemental security income from the federal government is automatically eligible for medical assistance, and an application for benefits under these programs constitutes an application for medical assistance.

(b) The department shall prescribe application forms for persons who are not recipients of benefits under Chapter 31 of this code or supplemental security income from the federal government and shall adopt rules for processing the applications.

(c) The department shall inform applicants for nursing home care of any community services which might be available under the community care for the aged and disabled program.

(d) The department shall adopt an application form and procedures for a request for medical assistance provided to a child under 19 years of age. To the extent allowed by federal law and except as otherwise provided by this section, the application form and procedures must be the same as the form and procedures adopted under Section 62.103, Health and Safety Code. The department shall coordinate the form and procedures adopted under this subsection with the form and procedures adopted under Section 62.103, Health and Safety Code, to ensure that there is a single consolidated application for a child under 19 years of age to seek medical assistance or to request coverage under the state child health plan under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code.

(e) The department shall permit an application requesting medical assistance for a child under 19 years of age to be conducted by mail instead of through a personal appearance at a department office, unless the department determines that the information needed to verify eligibility cannot be obtained in that manner. The department by rule may develop procedures requiring an application for a child described by this subsection to be conducted through a personal interview with a department representative only if the department determines that information needed to verify eligibility cannot be obtained in any other manner.

(f) The commissioner by rule may develop procedures by which:

(1) any office of a health and human services agency may accept an application requesting medical assistance for a child under 19 years of age; and

(2) the department may contract with hospital districts, hospitals, including state-owned teaching hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and county health departments to accept applications requesting medical assistance for a child under 19 years of age.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2350, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1085, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 584, Sec. 2; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 376, Sec. 2, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1251, Sec. 7, eff. June 20, 2003.