81R9647 KFF-D
By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 2171
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the maintenance of health care provider lists under the
Medicaid and child health plan programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0393 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0393. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LISTS UNDER CERTAIN
HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS AND PROGRAMS. The commission shall include
in each contract between the commission and a health benefits plan
provider under the Medicaid program, including the STAR program or
any other Medicaid managed care program, or the child health plan
program a requirement that the health benefits plan provider
maintain accurate and comprehensive lists of health care providers
providing services to enrollees under the health benefits plan.
Each list of health care providers must:
(1) be updated at least as frequently as required by
the commission in the contract; and
(2) indicate which health care providers providing
services to enrollees under the health benefits plan are no longer
accepting new patients.
SECTION 2. (a) Section 531.0393, Government Code, as added
by this Act, applies to a contract entered into or renewed on or
after the effective date of this Act.
(b) To the extent permitted by law or the terms of the
contract, the Health and Human Services Commission shall amend a
contract entered into before the effective date of this Act with a
health benefits plan provider to require compliance with Section
531.0393, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. 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.