81R2339 UM-D
By: Nelson S.B. No. 287
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of electronic prescribing data transmission
systems under the state Medicaid program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.02411, Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 531.02411. STREAMLINING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES.
(a) The commission shall make every effort using the
commission's existing resources to reduce the paperwork and other
administrative burdens placed on Medicaid recipients and providers
and other participants in the Medicaid program and shall use
technology and efficient business practices to decrease those
burdens. In addition, the commission shall make every effort to
improve the business practices associated with the administration
of the Medicaid program by any method the commission determines is
cost-effective, including:
(1) expanding the utilization of the electronic claims
payment system;
(2) developing an Internet portal system for prior
authorization requests;
(3) encouraging Medicaid providers to submit their
program participation applications electronically;
(4) ensuring that the Medicaid provider application is
easy to locate on the Internet so that providers may conveniently
apply to the program;
(5) working with federal partners to take advantage of
every opportunity to maximize additional federal funding for
technology in the Medicaid program; and
(6) encouraging the increased use of medical
technology by providers, including increasing their use of:
(A) electronic communications between patients
and their physicians or other health care providers;
(B) electronic prescribing tools that provide
up-to-date payer formulary information at the time a physician or
other health care practitioner writes a prescription and that
support the electronic transmission of a prescription;
(C) ambulatory computerized order entry systems
that facilitate physician and other health care practitioner orders
at the point of care for medications and laboratory and
radiological tests;
(D) inpatient computerized order entry systems
to reduce errors, improve health care quality, and lower costs in a
hospital setting;
(E) regional data-sharing to coordinate patient
care across a community for patients who are treated by multiple
providers; and
(F) electronic intensive care unit technology to
allow physicians to fully monitor hospital patients remotely.
(b) The commission shall develop and implement a plan
designed to encourage the increased use by Medicaid providers of
the medical technology described by Subsection (a)(6)(B). The plan
must include a goal of achieving by September 1, 2014, a specified
percentage increase in the use of electronic prescribing by
Medicaid providers. Not later than January 1, 2010, the commission
shall submit a report to the legislature describing the plan
developed by the commission in accordance with this subsection.
Not later than January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2013, the commission
shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the
implementation and results of the plan. This subsection expires
September 1, 2014.
SECTION 2. 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 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.