Texas Senate Bill SB2171

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the maintenance of health care provider lists under the Medicaid and child health plan programs.

Impact

The enactment of SB2171 will have a significant impact on the administration of Medicaid and child health plan provider networks. By enforcing stricter requirements on the maintenance of provider lists, the bill seeks to improve the accessibility of healthcare information for enrolled individuals. This is expected to enhance user experience, potentially leading to increased satisfaction among Medicaid recipients as they navigate healthcare options. Furthermore, it may influence the operations of healthcare providers and benefits plans, as they will need to adhere to the specified guidelines regarding provider list updates.

Summary

SB2171 focuses on the maintenance of health care provider lists within the Medicaid and child health plan programs. It mandates that health benefits plan providers must maintain accurate and comprehensive lists of healthcare providers who offer services to enrollees. Additionally, these lists are required to be updated as frequently as stipulated by the commission and indicate which providers are no longer accepting new patients. This regulation aims to ensure that enrollees have current and reliable information regarding available healthcare services.

Contention

While the bill is generally aimed at providing better healthcare service accessibility, there could be points of contention regarding the implementation and frequent updates required. Stakeholders might raise concerns about the administrative burden placed on health plan providers to continuously update their lists and the implications this may have on their operational processes. Moreover, if providers are unable to keep up with these requirements, it could inadvertently lead to gaps in available services for enrollees, raising questions about the adequacy of the healthcare system's responsiveness to provider availability.