81R3265 KCR-D
By: McClendon H.B. No. 505
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the health benefit plan innovations
program in the Texas Department of Insurance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 5, Insurance Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 525 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 525. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN INNOVATIONS PROGRAM
Sec. 525.001. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. (a) The department
shall develop and implement a health benefit plan innovations
program to study the number of uninsured individuals in this state,
the reasons those individuals are uninsured, and possible solutions
that would expand access to affordable health benefit plan coverage
in this state.
(b) The department shall use department employees already
employed in the research and analysis area of the life/health
division of the department to implement the program. The
department may not hire full-time employees whose primary job
functions would solely be implementation of the program.
Sec. 525.002. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. (a) The program
implemented under this chapter must:
(1) collect and analyze data concerning the number,
age, and demographic characteristics of uninsured individuals in
this state;
(2) identify the reasons why individuals in this state
are uninsured;
(3) examine and evaluate the effectiveness of programs
implemented in other states to reduce the number of uninsured
residents in those states;
(4) monitor and evaluate the health benefit market in
this state and determine whether residents of this state have
sufficient access to a variety of health benefit plan products to
ensure adequate health benefit plan coverage; and
(5) make recommendations to the legislature
concerning programs or initiatives to be implemented in this state
to reduce the number of uninsured residents in this state.
(b) The department shall coordinate program components that
involve market and cost research or data collection and analysis
with health benefit plan issuers and the Health and Human Services
Commission to ensure the collection and analysis of complete and
accurate information.
Sec. 525.003. REPORT. The department shall include in its
biennial report to the legislature under Section 32.022 the
program's findings concerning the information and recommendations
described by Section 525.002.
Sec. 525.004. FUNDING. The department may accept gifts and
grants from any party, including a health benefit plan issuer or a
foundation associated with a health benefit plan issuer, to assist
with funding the program. The department shall adopt rules
governing acceptance of donations that are consistent with Chapter
575, Government Code. Before adopting rules under this section,
the department shall:
(1) submit the proposed rules to the Texas Ethics
Commission for review; and
(2) consider that commission's recommendations
regarding the proposed rules.
Sec. 525.005. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as
necessary to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.