Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

By December 31, 2024, this bill requires the bureau of TennCare ("bureau") to submit a waiver application to the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services that establishes a temporary TennCare benefits program that provides medical assistance on a temporary basis to an individual who is otherwise ineligible on the basis of income for enrollment in any other medical assistance program. The temporary program must include provisions for the following: (1) Medical assistance must be available for a period that does not exceed 12 months in any period of 24 months, up to a cumulative maximum of 60 months during the years prior to the individual’s 21st birthday, for an individual that is less than 21; from a family that has an income no more than 138 percent of the federal poverty level; and is not currently eligible for the TennCare program or enrolled in the CoverKids program, or a successor program; (2) Medical assistance must be available for a period that does not exceed 12 months in any period of 24 months, up to a cumulative maximum of 60 months during the individual’s remaining lifetime, for an individual who is 21 or older; has an income that is no more than 138 percent of the federal poverty level; and is not currently eligible for medical assistance in another program; (3) The temporary benefits provided in (1)-(2) above do not replace or substitute enrollment in the TennCare program, the CoverKids program, or successor programs if the individual becomes eligible for one or more of those programs while the individual is enrolled in the temporary TennCare benefits program. Neither does receipt of these temporary benefits preclude an individual who becomes eligible for the TennCare program, the CoverKids program, or a successor program from applying for enrollment in those programs; (4) If an individual becomes enrolled in the TennCare program, the CoverKids program, or a successor program while the individual is receiving temporary benefits, then the temporary benefits are paused. For a qualifying individual under (2) above, the 60-month limit resets upon the individual’s 21st birthday. Any time remaining does not carry forward prior to the individual’s 21st birthday. Enrollment in the temporary TennCare benefits program must begin six months following the date of federal approval of any necessary waiver; (5) The program is funded using 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds, and the program and any federal waiver sought to enable the program must leave unchanged the TennCare block grant financing agreement that was negotiated and subsequently approved by the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and by joint resolution of the general assembly; and (6) The bureau must promulgate rules to administer the temporary TennCare benefits program that include an application system for new and returning beneficiaries; a record of beneficiaries; and a time-tracking system that maintains a record of a beneficiary’s use of the program and that makes the record available to the beneficiary. This bill also requires the bureau to strive to enable applicants for temporary benefits to access benefits in a timely fashion. However, this bill clarifies that the temporary TennCare benefits program does not constitute an entitlement to coverage for eligible individuals, and the availability of program benefits is subject to appropriations made in the annual appropriations act for that purpose. MEDICAID EXPANSION Present law prohibits the governor from making any decision or obligating the state of Tennessee in any way with regard to the expansion of optional enrollment in the Medicaid program pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unless authorized by joint resolution of the general assembly. This bill requires the governor to be allowed to make decisions or obligate the state of Tennessee with regard to the expansion of optional enrollment in the Medicaid program pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without authorization by joint resolution of the general assembly if the governor is taking actions that are necessary to establish the temporary TennCare benefits program.