Texas House Bill HB2985

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to a pilot program to provide a health clinic for state employees.

Impact

The bill aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this pilot program over a period of two to five years. The implementation will be scrutinized through a report to be submitted to the legislature no later than January 1, 2023, which will assess whether the program has achieved its goals of cost savings and enhancement of healthcare access. If successful, this model could pave the way for broader adoption of similar health initiatives within state government employment frameworks.

Summary

House Bill 2985 establishes a pilot program aimed at providing health clinic services specifically for state employees. The bill mandates the Employees Retirement System of Texas to set up an outpatient clinic at a location with a high concentration of state employees. This initiative is intended to improve access to healthcare services for state employees who may currently face barriers in obtaining necessary medical care due to various factors, including location and accessibility of healthcare facilities.

Contention

While the bill introduces potentially beneficial health services for state employees, there might be concerns regarding funding, implementation logistics, and the long-term viability of the program beyond its pilot phase. Questions could arise concerning the adequacy of healthcare services provided, as well as the management of the clinic's operations by the retirement system. Additionally, there may be discussions regarding the equity of access among different state employee groups and whether such services could inadvertently favor certain employees over others.