82R4407 SJM-D
By: Gonzales of Hidalgo H.B. No. 3144
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the advisory committee on Medicaid and child health
plan program rate and expenditure disparities between the
Texas-Mexico border region and other areas of the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.0223(a)(2), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Committee" means the advisory committee on
Medicaid and child health plan program rate and expenditure
[funding] disparities between the Texas-Mexico border region and
other areas of the state [in health programs] appointed by the
executive commissioner under this section.
SECTION 2. Sections 531.0223(b), (c), (d), (e), (o), and
(p), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The executive commissioner shall appoint an advisory
committee to develop a strategic plan for eliminating the
disparities between the Texas-Mexico border region and other areas
of the state in:
(1) capitation rates under Medicaid managed care and
the child health plan program for services provided to persons
younger than 19 years of age;
(2) fee-for-service per capita expenditures under the
Medicaid program and the child health plan program for inpatient
and outpatient hospital services for services provided to persons
younger than 19 years of age; and
(3) total professional services expenditures per
Medicaid recipient younger than 19 years of age or per child
enrolled in the child health plan program.
(c) Periodically the committee shall perform the research
necessary to analyze and compare the rates and expenditures
described by Subsection (b) and, not later than the date specified
by the executive commissioner, produce a report based on the
results of that analysis and comparison.
(d) The committee shall, as part of the report required by
Subsection (c), make recommendations to the executive commissioner
for addressing the problems created by disparities documented in
the report, including recommendations for allocation of funds.
(e) The executive commissioner shall appoint nine members
to the advisory committee in a manner that ensures that the
committee:
(1) represents the spectrum of geographic areas
included in the Texas-Mexico border region;
(2) includes persons who are knowledgeable regarding
the Medicaid program, including Medicaid managed care, and the
child health plan program; and
(3) represents the interests of physicians,
hospitals, patients, managed care organizations, state agencies
involved in the management and delivery of medical resources of any
kind, affected communities, and other areas of the state.
(o) The commission shall [contract with a public university
to]:
(1) measure changes occurring from September 1, 2002
[2001], to August 31, 2014 [2004], in the number of health care
providers participating in the Medicaid program or the child health
plan program in the Texas-Mexico border region and resulting
effects on consumer access to health care and consumer utilization;
(2) determine:
(A) the effects, if any, of the changes in rates
and expenditures required by Subsection (k); and
(B) if funding available and used for changes in
rates and expenditures was sufficient to produce measurable
effects;
(3) make a recommendation regarding whether Medicaid
rate increases should be expanded to include Medicaid services
provided to adults in the Texas-Mexico border region; and
(4) not later than December 1, 2014 [2004], submit a
report to the legislature.
(p) This section expires September 1, 2015 [2011].
SECTION 3. The advisory committee on Medicaid and child
health plan program rate and expenditure disparities between the
Texas-Mexico border region and other areas of the state is
re-created in accordance with Section 531.0223, Government Code, as
amended by this Act. Not later than December 1, 2011, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
appoint the members of the advisory committee as required by that
section.
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.