By: Turner of Harris, Allen, Crabb, Marquez H.B. No. 2163
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding the provision of certain medications
through the Medicaid vendor drug program to children younger than
16 years of age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0731 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0731. STUDY REGARDING THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN
MEDICATION TO CHILDREN. (a) The commission shall conduct a study
to determine the appropriateness and safety of providing
antipsychotic or neuroleptic medication through the Medicaid
vendor drug program to children younger than 16 years of age.
(b) The study conducted under Subsection (a) must consider
the following factors relevant to the appropriateness and safety of
providing the medications to children:
(1) the physical and psychological medical diagnosis
of a child's condition;
(2) whether the United States Food and Drug
Administration has approved a medication for use by a child of a
certain age;
(3) whether a child has successfully taken a
medication previously;
(4) access to quality medical care for a child
receiving benefits under the program;
(5) the standard of care in the medical profession
regarding the provision of such medications to a child; and
(6) any other factor the commission considers
relevant.
(c) Not later than November 10, 2010, the executive
commissioner shall submit a report containing the results of the
study conducted under Subsection (a) to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the chairs of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
and the House Committee on Public Health.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.