87R4390 MEW-F
 
  By: Parker H.B. No. 1461
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
  regarding the use of health reimbursement accounts in conjunction
  with Medicare plans available through the individual marketplace to
  provide health and pharmacy benefit coverage for certain retired
  school employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  STUDY. (a) The Teacher Retirement System of
  Texas shall conduct a study to evaluate the use of health
  reimbursement accounts in conjunction with Medicare plans
  available through the individual marketplace as a means to provide
  health and pharmacy benefit coverage under Chapter 1575, Insurance
  Code, for Medicare-eligible retired school employees and their
  spouses.
         (b)  The evaluation must consider:
               (1)  using claims experience and premium data from the
  most recent two years, the affordability and availability of
  Medicare plans available through the individual marketplace to
  Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses compared to health
  benefit plans available to those retirees and their spouses under
  Chapter 1575, Insurance Code;
               (2)  provider availability under Medicare plans
  available through the individual marketplace; and
               (3)  any other items the Teacher Retirement System of
  Texas determines are relevant to the system's long-term ability to
  provide health and pharmacy benefits to Medicare-eligible retirees
  and their spouses considering the demographic, geographic, and
  socioeconomic characteristics of the Medicare-eligible retirees
  and spouses participating in the group program under Chapter 1575,
  Insurance Code.
         (c)  In conducting the study under this section, the Teacher
  Retirement System of Texas may contract or collaborate with
  entities having industry-leading expertise and experience in the
  individual marketplace.
         SECTION 2.  REPORT. (a)  Not later than December 1, 2021,
  the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall submit to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and Legislative Budget Board a written report of
  the study conducted under Section 1 of this Act. The report must
  include the findings and legislative recommendations of the Teacher
  Retirement System of Texas.
         (b)  If the report finds that using health reimbursement
  accounts in conjunction with Medicare plans available through the
  individual marketplace could achieve cost savings for the state and
  for Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses participating in
  the group program under Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, while
  providing health and pharmacy benefit coverage substantially
  equivalent to the coverage provided under the group program, the
  Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall, to the extent possible,
  begin implementing any recommendations from the report that the
  system may implement without legislative action.
         SECTION 3.  EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 1,
  2023.
         SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
  immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
  elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
  Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.