84R3583 PMO-D
By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 818
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a health benefit exchange tailored
to the needs of the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
the Texas Department of Insurance, or the commission in conjunction
with the department, shall negotiate with the appropriate federal
entity for authorization to develop a state health benefit
exchange. The negotiated authorization must allow the state health
benefit exchange to be flexible, patient-friendly, tailored to the
needs of the state, and similar to the health benefit exchange
described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub.
L. No. 111-148).
(b) If the appropriate federal entity authorizes a state
health benefit exchange described in Subsection (a) of this
section, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas
Department of Insurance, or the commission in conjunction with the
department, shall develop and implement the health benefit
exchange.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.