The House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select

87th Legislature

August 4, 2022

10:00 a.m.

E2.010

Pursuant to a notice posted on July 21, 2022, the House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Harless, at 10:06 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Harless; Rose; Bonnen; Bucy; Capriglione; Frank; Guerra; Klick; Lujan; Oliverson; and Walle.

A quorum was present.

Rep. Harrison was in attendance.

The chair made opening remarks.

The Select Committee on Health Care Reform considered the following interim charge:

Study the implications of excessive health care costs on the efficacy of Texas Medicaid and the private health insurance market and the resulting impact on individual Texans, businesses, and state government.  Examine the interaction of specific factors of  health care affordability such as transparency, competition, and patient incentives.  Make recommendations to expand access to health care price information to allow consumers to make informed decisions regarding their care.  Examine the impact of government benefit, administrative, and contractual mandates imposed upon private insurance companies and their impact on employer and consumer premiums and out-of-pocket costs, including the effects of specific benefit and any-willing-provider requirements.  Make recommendations for state and agency-level mandates and regulations that could be relaxed or repealed to increase the availability and affordability of private health coverage options in the state.  Review access to and affordability of prescription drugs.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

The Select Committee on Health Care Reform considered the following interim charge:

Monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, current price transparency requirements and study ways that the state can support patients and increase competition.  Make legislative and administrative recommendations, as appropriate.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

At 7:21 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was recessed until 9:00 a.m., August 05, 2022.

Pursuant to the recess, the committee reconvened on Friday, August 05, 2022, at 9:15 a.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Harless.

The quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Harless; Rose; Bonnen; Bucy; Capriglione; Frank; Klick; Lujan; and Walle.

A quorum was present.

The Select Committee on Health Care Reform considered the following interim charge:

Evaluate innovative, fiscally positive options to ensure that Texans have access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care, with an emphasis on reaching low-income and at-risk populations. The evaluation should include a study of strategies other states and organizations have implemented or proposed to address health care access and affordability.  Make recommendations to increase primary health care access points in Texas.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative Oliverson now present.)

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative Guerra now present.)

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

At 4:31 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. Harless, Chair

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Ron Hickman, Clerk