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Senate Bill 747 |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-19 |
House Sponsor: Lucio III |
Senate Bill 747 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to establish the amounts charged for newborn screening fees, which must be sufficient to cover the costs of performing the screening. The bill requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to publish on its website the cost of and instructions on the full claim and reimbursement process for a newborn screening test kit.
Senate Bill 747 establishes the newborn screening preservation account in the general revenue fund for the purpose of carrying out the newborn screening program. Money remaining in the account after paying the costs of operating the program may be used to pay the costs of offering additional newborn screening tests not offered before September 1, 2019, and to pay for capital assets, equipment, and renovations for the newborn screening program laboratory. The bill requires DSHS to prepare and submit a biennial report for any additional newborn screening test whose costs are funded from the newborn screening preservation account.
Senate Bill 747 amends the Insurance Code to include the cost of a newborn screening test kit among the well‑child care from birth benefits covered under a health care plan provided by a health maintenance organization and to prohibit a health benefit plan that provides maternity benefits or accident and health coverage for additional newborn children from excluding or limiting coverage for administration of required newborn screening tests.