Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2247 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R8252 KKR-D
2	2	By: Shine H.B. No. 2247
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to a demonstration program at the State Office of Risk
8	8	Management for real-time processing of workers' compensation
9	9	authorizations of payment for medical services and medical bills.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 412, Labor Code, is
12	12	amended by adding Section 412.0129 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 412.0129. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL
14	14	SERVICES AND MEDICAL BILLS REAL-TIME PROCESSING DEMONSTRATION
15	15	PROGRAM. (a) The office may develop and implement a demonstration
16	16	program for processing workers' compensation authorizations of
17	17	payment for medical services and medical bills in real time if the
18	18	office determines that the program would be cost-effective.
19	19	(b) The demonstration program described by Subsection (a)
20	20	must include:
21	21	(1) a secure single platform, Internet-based portal
22	22	for use by the office, state agencies, injured employees, and
23	23	health care providers;
24	24	(2) the ability to collect, input, and transmit
25	25	administrative and clinical data, including:
26	26	(A) patient information;
27	27	(B) health care provider contracts;
28	28	(C) treatment guidelines; and
29	29	(D) other information the office considers
30	30	necessary for processing authorizations and medical bills;
31	31	(3) an automated process to streamline requests for
32	32	authorizations of payment for medical services and peer reviews at
33	33	the point of care; and
34	34	(4) return-to-work best practices for workers'
35	35	compensation claims, including complex case management.
36	36	(c) The workers' compensation research and evaluation group
37	37	may assist the office in identifying and adopting measures for
38	38	evaluating the demonstration program.
39	39	(d) The evaluation period for the demonstration program
40	40	shall end on June 30, 2024.
41	41	(e) If the office implements a demonstration program under
42	42	this section, not later than December 31, 2024, the office shall
43	43	provide to the board a report that:
44	44	(1) evaluates the program, including any effects of
45	45	the program on administrative cost savings;
46	46	(2) recommends whether to use the process implemented
47	47	under the program on a permanent basis; and
48	48	(3) if the office determines administrative cost
49	49	savings were not achieved by the process implemented under the
50	50	program, includes:
51	51	(A) the reasons that the program did not result
52	52	in administrative cost savings; and
53	53	(B) recommendations for proposed legislation to
54	54	develop a cost-effective system for processing workers'
55	55	compensation authorizations of payment for medical services and
56	56	medical bills in real time.
57	57	(f) If the report of the demonstration program under
58	58	Subsection (e) indicates that administrative cost savings are
59	59	achieved by the process implemented under the program, the board
60	60	may adopt and use the process on a permanent basis.
61	61	(g) This section expires September 1, 2025.
62	62	SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the State Office
63	63	of Risk Management shall study and make a determination as to
64	64	whether the demonstration program described by Section 412.0129,
65	65	Labor Code, as added by this Act, would be cost-effective. If the
66	66	office determines the program would be cost-effective and decides
67	67	to implement the program, the office shall fully implement the
68	68	program not later than January 1, 2023.
69	69	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
70	70	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
71	71	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
72	72	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
73	73	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.