87R12454 SCL-F
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 18
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishment of the prescription drug savings program
  for certain uninsured individuals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the "Texas Cares Act."
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 65 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 65. PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
  UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 65.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Account" means the Texas cares account
  established under Section 65.101.
               (2)  "Enrollee" means an individual enrolled in the
  program.
               (3)  "Pharmacy benefit manager" means a person, other
  than a pharmacy or pharmacist, who acts as an administrator in
  connection with prescription drug discounts provided under the
  program.
               (4)  "Program" means the prescription drug savings
  program established under this chapter.
               (5)  "Uninsured individual" means an individual
  without health benefit plan coverage for a prescription drug
  benefit.
         Sec. 65.002.  CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER; PURPOSE. (a) This
  chapter does not establish an entitlement to assistance in
  obtaining benefits for uninsured individuals.
         (b)  The purpose of this chapter is to make this state's risk
  pool whole by providing services to uninsured individuals without
  access to prescription drug benefits.
         Sec. 65.003.  CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LAW; REPORT. (a) The
  executive commissioner shall monitor federal law affecting the
  administration or facilitation of a prescription drug savings
  program. 
         (b)  If the executive commissioner determines that a federal
  law, rule, or regulation conflicts with this chapter, the executive
  commissioner shall provide a written report of the conflict to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives. The report must include recommendations for
  legislation necessary to comply with federal law or recommendations
  for dissolution of a program established by this chapter that is
  duplicative of federal law.
         Sec. 65.004.  RULES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection
  (b), the executive commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this chapter.
         (b)  The executive commissioner may delegate rulemaking to
  another state agency with that agency's approval. If the executive
  commissioner delegates rulemaking under this subsection, the
  executive commissioner must approve the proposed rules of the
  delegated agency before the delegated agency adopts the rules.
  SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIPTION
  DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM
         Sec. 65.051.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission
  shall develop and design a prescription drug savings program that
  partners with a pharmacy benefit manager to make prescription drugs
  available at a discounted rate to uninsured individuals.
         (b)  In developing and implementing the program, the
  commission shall ensure that program benefits do not include
  prescription drugs to be used for the elective termination of a
  pregnancy.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall ensure that the
  program is designed in a manner that provides the greatest possible
  value to the uninsured individuals it serves, with considerations
  given to the adequacy of the prescription drug formulary, costs of
  drugs, cost to the state, and other important factors.
         Sec. 65.052.  GENERAL DUTIES OF COMMISSION RELATED TO
  PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall oversee the implementation of
  the program and coordinate the activities of each state agency
  necessary for the implementation of the program, including the
  Texas Department of Insurance.
         (b)  The commission shall maximize the use of private
  resources in administering the program.
         (c)  The commission shall ensure that money spent
  administering the program does not exceed a limit on program
  expenditures imposed by the legislature.
         (d)  The commission shall develop a method to accept
  applications for participation in the program, including a process
  to:
               (1)  determine eligibility, screening, and enrollment
  procedures; and
               (2)  resolve disputes related to eligibility
  determinations.
         Sec. 65.053.  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE DUTIES. At the
  request of the commission, the Texas Department of Insurance shall
  provide any necessary assistance with the development of the
  program. The Texas Department of Insurance shall monitor the
  quality of the services provided by a pharmacy benefit manager and
  resolve disputes relating to those services.
         Sec. 65.054.  PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER CONTRACT AND
  REQUIREMENTS. (a) The commission shall enter into a contract with
  a pharmacy benefit manager to provide enrollment and related
  services throughout this state under the program.
         (b)  The commission shall monitor, through reporting
  requirements or other means, the contracted pharmacy benefit
  manager to ensure performance under the contract and quality
  delivery of services.
         (c)  The commission shall provide payments under a contract
  entered into under this section to the contracted pharmacy benefit
  manager.
         (d)  A pharmacy benefit manager must hold a certificate of
  authority or other appropriate license issued by the Texas
  Department of Insurance that authorizes the pharmacy benefit
  manager to provide the type of coverage related to the services
  provided under the program.
         (e)  A pharmacy benefit manager that provides health care
  services under the program must satisfy certification and licensure
  requirements prescribed by the commission and consistent with law.
         Sec. 65.055.  CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. (a) The commission
  may contract with a third-party administrator or other entity to
  administer the program for the commission under this chapter.
         (b)  A third-party administrator or other entity may perform
  tasks under a contract entered into under Subsection (a) that would
  otherwise be performed by the commission.
         (c)  The commission may not delegate decisions about the
  policies of the program to a third party administrator or other
  entity.
         Sec. 65.056.  CONTRACT OVERSIGHT. (a) The commission shall
  conduct a review of each entity that enters into a contract under
  this subchapter to ensure the entity is available, prepared, and
  able to fulfill the entity's obligations under the contract in
  compliance with the contract, this chapter, and rules adopted under
  this chapter.
         (b)  The commission's review of contractors under Subsection
  (a) must be based on the following criteria:
               (1)  adequate and appropriate staffing, including
  contracts with third parties;
               (2)  adequate and properly documented policies and
  procedures;
               (3)  fiscal soundness; and
               (4)  adequate information systems, electronic
  interfaces, and business practices.
         (c)  The commission shall ensure that each contract entered
  into under this subchapter is procured using a competitive
  procurement process in compliance with all applicable federal and
  state laws, rules, and regulations.
         Sec. 65.057.  COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. The commission
  shall conduct a community outreach and education campaign in the
  form and manner determined by the commission to provide information
  relating to the availability of the program.
  SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS CARES ACCOUNT; PROGRAM TERMINATION
         Sec. 65.101.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXAS CARES ACCOUNT. (a)
  The Texas cares account is a dedicated account in the general
  revenue fund.
         (b)  The account consists of:
               (1)  gifts, grants, and donations received for the
  account;
               (2)  legislative appropriations;
               (3)  federal money available to be used for this
  purpose; and
               (4)  interest, dividends, and other income of the
  account.
         (c)  Section 403.0956, Government Code, does not apply to the
  account.
         (d)  Money in the account may be appropriated only for the
  administration of the program and the provision of program
  services.
         (e)  The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations for the account.
         Sec. 65.102.  TERMINATION OF PROGRAM. The commission may
  terminate the program if the commission determines the account
  under Section 65.101 lacks sufficient funding to administer the
  program.
  SUBCHAPTER D. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLEE REQUIREMENTS
         Sec. 65.151.  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. (a) Except as provided
  by Subsection (b), an individual is eligible for benefits under the
  program if the individual:
               (1)  is a resident of this state; 
               (2)  is a citizen of the United States; and
               (3)  is uninsured, as determined by the commission.
         (b)  If the commission determines necessary, the commission
  may consider an applicant's financial vulnerability as an
  additional factor for determining program eligibility.
         (c)  The executive commissioner by rule shall establish
  eligibility levels consistent with any other applicable federal and
  state laws, rules, and regulations.
         Sec. 65.152.  COST SHARING. To the extent necessary, the
  commission shall require enrollees to share the cost of the
  program, including provisions requiring enrollees to pay a
  copayment at the point of service.
  SUBCHAPTER E. OPERATION OF PROGRAM
         Sec. 65.201.  PROGRAM BENEFITS. (a) The commission may use
  money appropriated to the program in accordance with the General
  Appropriations Act and in the account to finance benefits for
  enrollees.
         (b)  The commission must approve program benefits offered
  under this chapter. The commission shall ensure that the benefits
  comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and
  regulations.
         Sec. 65.202.  REPORTING. (a) A third-party administrator
  or other entity the commission contracts with under Section 65.055
  shall report to the commission in the form and manner prescribed by
  the commission on the benefits and services provided under the
  program.
         (b)  The commission shall establish a procedure to monitor
  the provision of benefits and services under this chapter.
         Sec. 65.203.  FRAUD PREVENTION. The executive commissioner
  shall develop and implement rules for the prevention and detection
  of fraud in the program.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  In this section, "commission" means the
  Health and Human Services Commission.
         (b)  The commission shall conduct a study on the development
  and implementation of the prescription drug savings program
  established by Chapter 65, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act. The commission shall determine the effectiveness of the
  program in providing services to uninsured individuals in this
  state and any legislative recommendations for improvements to the
  program.
         (c)  Not later than October 16, 2022, the commission shall
  provide a written report of the results of the study conducted under
  Subsection (b) of this section to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of
  the standing committees of the legislature with primary
  jurisdiction over the commission.
         SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission and any other state agency designated by the
  executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Chapter 65, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.