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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disclosure of negotiated rates requested by members |
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of the legislature from certain health care vendors that contract |
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with this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 2252, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2252.909 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2252.909. LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FOR NEGOTIATED RATES |
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UNDER CERTAIN HEALTH BENEFIT CONTRACTS. (a) In this |
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section, "health care vendor" means: |
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(1) a health benefit plan issuer that contracts with |
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this state for the administration of health benefits; and |
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(2) a managed care organization that contracts with |
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the Health and Human Services Commission to administer health |
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benefits for Medicaid recipients through a managed care plan. |
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(b) This section applies only to a health care vendor that |
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contracts with this state, including with an agency of this state, |
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to administer health benefits under: |
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(1) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551, |
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Insurance Code; |
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(2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575, Insurance Code; |
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(3) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579, |
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Insurance Code; |
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(4) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter |
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1601, Insurance Code; or |
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(5) the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid |
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managed care program operated under Chapter 533. |
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(c) A member of the legislature may request from a health |
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care vendor information regarding any negotiated rate included in a |
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contract between the vendor and this state for the administration |
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of health benefits. |
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(d) On receipt of a written request for information under |
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Subsection (c), the health care vendor shall provide the requested |
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information to the member of the legislature who submitted the |
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request. |
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(e) A health care vendor, by providing information under |
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this section that is confidential or otherwise excepted from |
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required disclosure under law, does not waive or affect the |
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confidentiality of the information for purposes of state or federal |
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law or waive the right to assert exceptions to required disclosure |
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of the information in the future. |
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(f) A member of the legislature or legislative staff who |
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receives information from a health care vendor under this section |
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may not disclose that information to any person who does not have a |
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right to access that information under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2252.909, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a health care vendor that enters into or |
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renews a contract with the State of Texas on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |