By: Zaffirini, Moncrief S.B. No. 600 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the development of certain standards and complaint 1-2 system guidelines for managed care organizations covering Medicaid 1-3 clients. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 12.017 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 12.017. MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS: MEDICAID PROGRAM. 1-8 (a) Except as provided by Section 533.045, the department shall 1-9 develop for managed care organizations that serve Medicaid clients 1-10 performance, operation, quality of care, marketing, and financial 1-11 standards and standards relating to children's access to quality 1-12 health care services. 1-13 (b) In establishing standards under this section, the 1-14 department, to the extent possible, shall ensure that each Medicaid 1-15 client can receive quality health care services in the client's 1-16 local community. 1-17 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety 1-18 Code, is amended by adding Section 533.045 to read as follows: 1-19 Sec. 533.045. MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS: MEDICAID PROGRAM. 1-20 The department shall develop performance, operation, and financial 1-21 standards for the provision by managed care organizations of mental 1-22 health and mental retardation services to Medicaid clients. 1-23 SECTION 3. Chapter 1, Insurance Code, is amended by adding 1-24 Article 1.61 to read as follows: 2-1 Art. 1.61. MEDICAID MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION: FISCAL 2-2 SOLVENCY AND COMPLAINT SYSTEM GUIDELINES. In conjunction with the 2-3 Texas Department of Health, the department shall establish fiscal 2-4 solvency standards and complaint system guidelines for managed care 2-5 organizations that serve Medicaid patients. 2-6 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-7 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.