81R18053 ALB-D
By: Naishtat H.B. No. 1453
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1453:
By: Rose C.S.H.B. No. 1453
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to long-term care consumer information made available
through the Internet.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0318 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0318. LONG-TERM CARE CONSUMER INFORMATION MADE
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INTERNET. (a) The Internet site maintained
under Section 531.0317 must include information for consumers
concerning long-term care services that complies with this section.
The Internet site maintained by the Department of Aging and
Disability Services must also include, or provide a link to, the
information required by this section.
(b) The information for consumers required by this section
must:
(1) be presented in a manner that is easily accessible
to, and understandable by, a consumer; and
(2) allow a consumer to make informed choices
concerning long-term care services and include:
(A) an explanation of the manner in which
long-term care service delivery is administered in different
counties through different programs operated by the commission and
by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, so that an
individual can easily understand the service options available in
the area in which that individual lives; and
(B) for the Medicaid Star + Plus pilot program,
information that allows a consumer to evaluate the performance of
each participating plan issuer, including for each issuer, in an
accessible format such as a table:
(i) the enrollment in each county;
(ii) additional "value-added" services
provided;
(iii) a summary of the financial
statistical report required under Subchapter A, Chapter 533;
(iv) complaint information;
(v) any sanction or penalty imposed by any
state agency, including a sanction or penalty imposed by the
commission or the Texas Department of Insurance;
(vi) information concerning consumer
satisfaction; and
(vii) other data, including relevant data
from reports of external quality review organizations, that may be
used by the consumer to evaluate the quality of the services
provided.
(c) In addition to providing the information required by
this section through the Internet, the commission or the Department
of Aging and Disability Services shall, on request by a consumer
without Internet access, provide the consumer with a printed copy
of the information from the website. The commission or department
may charge a reasonable fee for printing the information.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2010, the Health
and Human Services Commission shall make the information required
by Section 531.0318, Government Code, as added by this Act,
available through the Internet.
(b) In developing the information required to be made
available under this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission
shall incorporate long-term care provider quality information
reported through the Department of Aging and Disability Services
Internet site, as well as other appropriate available information
concerning the quality of services provided through the long-term
care service delivery programs operated by that department.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.