Sec. 531.091. INTEGRATED BENEFITS ISSUANCE. (a) The commission may develop and implement a method to consolidate, to the extent possible, recipient identification and benefits issuance for the commission and health and human services agencies if the commission determines that the implementation would be feasible and cost-effective.

(b) The method may:

(1) provide for the use of a single integrated benefits issuance card or multiple cards capable of integrating benefits issuance or other program functions;

(2) incorporate a fingerprint image identifier to enable personal identity verification at a point of service and reduce fraud;

(3) enable immediate electronic verification of recipient eligibility; and

(4) replace multiple forms, cards, or other methods used for fraud reduction or provision of health and human services benefits, including:

(A) electronic benefits transfer cards; and

(B) smart cards used in Medicaid.

(c) In developing and implementing the method, the commission shall:

(1) to the extent possible, use industry-standard communication, messaging, and electronic benefits transfer protocols;

(2) ensure that all identifying and descriptive information of recipients of each health and human services program included in the method can only be accessed by providers or other entities participating in the particular program;

(3) ensure that a provider or other entity participating in a health and human services program included in the method cannot identify whether a recipient of the program is receiving benefits under another program included in the method; and

(4) ensure that the storage and communication of all identifying and descriptive information included in the method complies with existing federal and state privacy laws governing individually identifiable information for recipients of public benefits programs.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 666 (S.B. 46), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 531.080 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 17.001(35), eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 2.123, eff. April 2, 2015.