Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3195 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R13265 SCL-D
2	2	By: Bernal H.B. No. 3195
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a health care pilot program for
8	8	low-income individuals.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Chapter 65 to read as follows:
12	12	CHAPTER 65. HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS
13	13	Sec. 65.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
14	14	(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of
15	15	insurance.
16	16	(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of
17	17	Insurance.
18	18	(3) "Pilot program" means the health care pilot
19	19	program for low-income individuals established under this chapter.
20	20	Sec. 65.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM; RULEMAKING
21	21	AUTHORITY. (a) The department shall establish and maintain in
22	22	accordance with this chapter a pilot program for health benefits
23	23	coverage for certain low-income individuals residing in an area
24	24	designated by the department under Section 65.003.
25	25	(b) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
26	26	implement this chapter.
27	27	Sec. 65.003. DESIGNATION OF AREAS UNDER PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
28	28	The commissioner by rule shall adopt standards in accordance with
29	29	this subsection for the designation of an area to be served under
30	30	the pilot program. To be eligible for the pilot program:
31	31	(1) the percentage of adults in the area who do not
32	32	have coverage or benefits for health care services under a public or
33	33	private plan or program must be higher than the state average;
34	34	(2) the area must be designated as a health
35	35	professional shortage area by the United States Department of
36	36	Health and Human Services; and
37	37	(3) the area must be served on or before January 1,
38	38	2015, by one or more promotoras trained under Chapter 48.
39	39	(b) The department shall designate 10 areas in this state
40	40	for inclusion in the pilot program in accordance with the standards
41	41	under Subsection (a) and rules adopted under this chapter.
42	42	(c) The department may establish an application process to
43	43	allow an area to apply for inclusion in the pilot program.
44	44	Sec. 65.004. PROMOTORA DUTIES. A promotora serving an area
45	45	designated for the pilot program may assist the department in
46	46	coordination of health care under the pilot program, in monitoring
47	47	the compliance of individuals enrolled in the pilot program, and in
48	48	establishing an application process.
49	49	Sec. 65.005. INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to
50	50	receive services under the pilot program, an individual must have
51	51	an income of less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level and
52	52	be a parent of a child currently enrolled in the state health plan
53	53	or health benefits plan for children under Chapter 62 or 63 or the
54	54	state Medicaid program operated under Chapter 32, Human Resources
55	55	Code.
56	56	Sec. 65.006. HEALTH COVERAGE UNDER PILOT PROGRAM. The
57	57	commissioner by rule shall develop the health benefits coverage
58	58	under the pilot program, including the benefits offered under the
59	59	pilot program and the method of providing benefits.
60	60	Sec. 65.007. FUNDING. Notwithstanding Section 6(e)(2),
61	61	Chapter 615 (S.B. 1367), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular
62	62	Session, 2013, the department shall fund the pilot program with
63	63	available funds transferred to the department under that Act. The
64	64	commissioner may adopt rules necessary to facilitate the funding of
65	65	the pilot program under this section.
66	66	Sec. 65.008. REPORT. (a) The department shall contract
67	67	with an independent third party to evaluate the pilot program and
68	68	develop a report under this section.
69	69	(b) Not later than December 1, 2016, the third party
70	70	contracting with the department under Subsection (a) shall
71	71	distribute a report that evaluates the pilot program to the
72	72	governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
73	73	representatives, and chairs of the standing committees of the
74	74	senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction
75	75	regarding health care or insurance.
76	76	Sec. 65.009. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The commissioner shall
77	77	appoint an advisory committee composed of five members to advise
78	78	the department on the implementation of this chapter. The
79	79	committee must include:
80	80	(1) two individuals eligible to obtain coverage under
81	81	the pilot program;
82	82	(2) a representative of the insurance industry;
83	83	(3) a representative of a university hospital system;
84	84	and
85	85	(4) a health care provider providing services in an
86	86	area included in the pilot program.
87	87	Sec. 65.010. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter expires
88	88	August 31, 2019.
89	89	SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas
90	90	Department of Insurance shall establish the indigent health care
91	91	pilot program described by Chapter 65, Health and Safety Code, as
92	92	added by this Act.
93	93	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.