Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 855 amends the Family Code and Government Code to authorize a medical consenter other than the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to assume financial responsibility for medical care provided to a foster child by an out-of-network provider engaged by the medical consenter on the child's behalf. The bill establishes that DFPS is not liable for the cost of such care unless a court orders DFPS to cover the cost. The bill prohibits a Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) from taking adverse action to prevent or discourage a recipient from accessing health care and related services and benefits in accordance with the bill's provisions and requires a STAR Health program managed care contract between a Medicaid MCO and the Health and Human Services Commission to require that the MCO comply with this prohibition.