Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2919 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	86R29669 KKR-D
2		-	By: Shine, Darby, Parker H.B. No. 2919
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2919:
4		-	By: Darby C.S.H.B. No. 2919
	1	+	86R7614 KKR-D
	2	+	By: Shine H.B. No. 2919
5	3
6	4
7	5		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	6		AN ACT
9	7		relating to a demonstration program at the State Office of Risk
10	8		Management for real-time processing of workers' compensation
11	9		authorizations of payment for medical services and medical bills.
12	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	11		SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 412, Labor Code, is
14	12		amended by adding Section 412.0129 to read as follows:
15	13		Sec. 412.0129. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL
16	14		SERVICES AND MEDICAL BILLS REAL-TIME PROCESSING DEMONSTRATION
17	15		PROGRAM. (a) The office may develop and implement a demonstration
18	16		program for processing workers' compensation authorizations of
19	17		payment for medical services and medical bills in real time if the
20	18		office determines that the program would be cost-effective.
21	19		(b) The demonstration program described by Subsection (a)
22	20		must include:
23	21		(1) a secure single platform, Internet-based portal
24	22		for use by the office, state agencies, injured employees, and
25	23		health care providers;
26	24		(2) the ability to collect, input, and transmit
27	25		administrative and clinical data, including:
28	26		(A) patient information;
29	27		(B) provider contracts;
30	28		(C) treatment guidelines; and
31	29		(D) other information the office considers
32	30		necessary for processing authorizations and medical bills;
33	31		(3) an automated process to streamline requests for
34	32		authorizations of payment for medical services and peer reviews at
35	33		the point of care; and
36	34		(4) return-to-work best practices for workers'
37	35		compensation claims, including complex case management.
38	36		(c) The workers' compensation research and evaluation group
39		-	~~may~~ assist the office in identifying and adopting measures for
	37	+	shall assist the office in identifying and adopting measures for
40	38		evaluating the demonstration program.
41	39		(d) The evaluation period for the demonstration program
42	40		shall end on June 30, 2022.
43	41		(e) If the office implements a demonstration program under
44	42		this section, not later than December 31, 2022, the office shall
45	43		provide to the board a report that:
46	44		(1) evaluates the program, including any effects of
47	45		the program on administrative cost savings; and
48	46		(2) recommends whether to use the process implemented
49	47		under the program on a permanent basis.
50	48		(f) If the report of the demonstration program under
51	49		Subsection (e) indicates that administrative cost savings are
52	50		achieved by the process implemented under the program, the board
53	51		may adopt and use the process on a permanent basis.
54		-	(g) If the report of the demonstration program under
55		-	Subsection (e) indicates that administrative cost savings were not
56		-	achieved by the process implemented under the program, not later
57		-	than December 31, 2022, the office shall submit to the legislature a
58		-	written report that contains:
59		-	(1) the reasons that the program did not result in
60		-	administrative cost savings; and
61		-	(2) recommendations for proposed legislation to
62		-	develop a cost-effective system for processing workers'
63		-	compensation authorizations of payment for medical services and
64		-	medical bills in real time.
65		-	(h) This section expires September 1, 2023.
	52	+	(g) This section expires September 1, 2023.
66	53		SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, the State Office
67		-	of Risk Management shall study and make a determination as to
68		-	whether the demonstration program described by Section 412.0129,
69		-	Labor Code, as added by this Act, would be cost-effective. If the
70		-	office determines the program would be cost-effective and decides
71		-	to implement the program, the office shall fully implement the
72		-	program not later than January 1, 2021.
73		-	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
74		-	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
75		-	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
76		-	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
77		-	Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
	54	+	of Risk Management shall make a determination as to whether the
	55	+	demonstration program described by Section 412.0129, Labor Code, as
	56	+	added by this Act, would be cost-effective. If the office
	57	+	determines the program would be cost-effective and decides to
	58	+	implement the program, the office shall fully implement the program
	59	+	not later than January 1, 2021.
	60	+	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.