By:  Maxey                                            H.B. No. 2045
       73R6315 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to prescription drugs dispensed under the Medicaid
    1-3  program.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
    1-6  by adding Subsection (t) to read as follows:
    1-7        (t)  The department, in its rules and standards governing the
    1-8  vendor drug program, may not limit the number of prescriptions that
    1-9  are medically indicated for a person by a licensed physician.  The
   1-10  department may limit the amount of a drug dispensed to a person at
   1-11  one time but shall allow at least a 31-day supply if that amount is
   1-12  medically indicated for the person by a licensed physician.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  If before implementing Section 32.024(t), Human
   1-14  Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Human
   1-15  Services determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
   1-16  agency is necessary for implementation, the department shall
   1-17  request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing the
   1-18  provisions until the waiver or authorization is granted.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-20        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.