MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING MEDICAID AND CHILD HEALTH PLAN PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.

(a) The commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to ensure that the commission assesses each individual who is committed, placed, or detained under Title 3, Family Code, for Medicaid and child health plan program eligibility before that individual's release from commitment, placement, or detention. A local juvenile probation department is subject to the requirements of the memorandum.

(b) The memorandum of understanding must specify:

(1) the information that must be provided to the commission;

(2) the process by which and time frame within which the information must be provided; and

(3) the roles and responsibilities of all parties to the memorandum, including a requirement that the commission pursue the actions necessary to complete eligibility applications.

(c) The memorandum of understanding must be tailored to:

(1) achieve the goal of ensuring that an individual described by Subsection (a) who the commission determines is eligible for Medicaid or the child health plan program:

(A) is enrolled in the program for which the individual is eligible; and

(B) may begin receiving services through the program as soon as possible after the eligibility determination is made; and

(2) if possible, achieve the goal of ensuring that the individual may begin receiving services through the program on the date of the individual's release from commitment, placement, or detention.

(d) The executive commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.