By Berlanga, Maxey, McDonald, Serna                   H.B. No. 1973
       74R3828 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the development and implementation of a computer
    1-3  database to reduce fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is
    1-6  amended by adding Section 2054.0541 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 2054.0541.  DATABASE TO DETECT FRAUD IN THE MEDICAID
    1-8  PROGRAM.  (a)  In conjunction with the Health and Human Services
    1-9  Commission and each health and human services agency that
   1-10  administers a part of the state Medicaid program, the department
   1-11  shall develop and implement a health care database to detect fraud
   1-12  perpetrated by a program provider or client.
   1-13        (b)  To minimize duplication of activities, the department
   1-14  shall assist and coordinate the efforts of the agencies that are
   1-15  participating in the development of the database required by
   1-16  Subsection (a).
   1-17        SECTION 2.  Section 32.023, Human Resources Code, is amended
   1-18  by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
   1-19        (e)  On the request of the Department of Information
   1-20  Resources or the commissioner of health and human services, a state
   1-21  agency that administers any part of the state Medicaid program
   1-22  shall assist that department in developing and implementing the
   1-23  database required by Section 2054.0541, Government Code.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-1        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.