Committee hears bill to extend Medicaid to lawfully present children, raise waiver age to 21

The House Human Services Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 1067, a department‑requested bill that would allow Medicaid coverage for children who are lawfully present in the United States without consideration of how long they or their parents have resided in the country, and would raise the age limit for participation in the Medicaid children’s autism and medically fragile waivers to 21.

"We estimate that up to an additional 180 children per year may receive Medicaid coverage if this bill passes," said Krista Fremming, assistant director of the medical services division at the Department of Health and Human Services. Fremming said the provision mirrors a 2023 change (Senate Bill 2181) that removed the five‑year waiting period for pregnant women and extends that same approach to children.

Fremming told the committee the department included a fiscal estimate…