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House Bill 3976 |
House Author: Ashby et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-17 |
Senate Sponsor: Huffman |
House Bill 3976 amends and repeals provisions of the Texas Public School Retired Employees Group Benefits Act, Insurance Code, to restructure the administration of benefits payable under the act by removing the two-tiered structure of basic and optional plans offered under the Texas public school employees group insurance program and instead requiring the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to establish or contract for and make available under the group program a high deductible plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, and a Medicare prescription drug plan for eligible retirees, dependents, surviving spouses, and surviving dependent children. The bill exempts the Medicare Advantage plan and Medicare prescription drug plan from certain statutory requirements relating to prior authorization for certain drugs and coverage for preexisting conditions, coverage for a prostate‑specific antigen test, and certain disease management services. The bill revises statutory provisions relating to cost sharing, monthly contribution, and payment requirements for the group program and the state's required contribution through TRS to cover certain costs of plans under the group program. The bill repeals statutory provisions relating to additional enrollment periods for coverage under the group program provision, establishing certain caps on the percentage of costs to be allocated to each group responsible for sharing the costs, and requiring that TRS establish certain ranges of payment for those costs.