S.B. No. 601 AN ACT 1-1 relating to certain educational programs and support services under 1-2 a managed care Medicaid program. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 16, Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes, 1-5 is amended to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 16. ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAID PROGRAM. (a) On 1-7 approval by the federal government, the commission is the state 1-8 agency designated to administer federal medical assistance funds. 1-9 (b) In adopting rules implementing a managed care Medicaid 1-10 program, the commission shall establish guidelines for and require 1-11 managed care organizations to provide education programs for 1-12 providers and clients using a variety of techniques and mediums. 1-13 (c) A provider education program must include information 1-14 on: 1-15 (1) Medicaid policies, procedures, eligibility 1-16 standards, and benefits; 1-17 (2) the specific problems and needs of Medicaid 1-18 clients; and 1-19 (3) the rights and responsibilities of Medicaid 1-20 clients under the bill of rights and the bill of responsibilities 1-21 prescribed by this section. 1-22 (d) A client education program must present information in a 1-23 manner that is easy to understand. A program must include 1-24 information on: 2-1 (1) a client's rights and responsibilities under the 2-2 bill of rights and the bill of responsibilities prescribed by this 2-3 section; 2-4 (2) how to access health care services; 2-5 (3) how to access complaint procedures and the 2-6 client's right to bypass the managed care organization's internal 2-7 complaint system and use the notice and appeal procedures otherwise 2-8 required by the Medicaid program; 2-9 (4) Medicaid policies, procedures, eligibility 2-10 standards, and benefits; 2-11 (5) the policies and procedures of the managed care 2-12 organization; and 2-13 (6) the importance of prevention, early intervention, 2-14 and appropriate use of services. 2-15 (e) The commission by rule shall adopt a bill of rights and 2-16 a bill of responsibilities for each person enrolled in the Medicaid 2-17 program. The bill of rights must address a client's right to: 2-18 (1) respect, dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and 2-19 nondiscrimination; 2-20 (2) a reasonable opportunity to choose a health care 2-21 plan and primary care provider and to change to another plan or 2-22 provider in a reasonable manner; 2-23 (3) consent to or refuse treatment and actively 2-24 participate in treatment decisions; 2-25 (4) ask questions and receive complete information 2-26 relating to the client's medical condition and treatment options, 2-27 including specialty care; 3-1 (5) access each available complaint process, receive a 3-2 timely response to a complaint, and receive a fair hearing; and 3-3 (6) timely access to care that does not have any 3-4 communication or physical access barriers. 3-5 (f) The bill of responsibilities must address a client's 3-6 responsibility to: 3-7 (1) learn and understand each right the client has 3-8 under the Medicaid program; 3-9 (2) abide by the health plan and Medicaid policies and 3-10 procedures; 3-11 (3) share information relating to the client's health 3-12 status with the primary care provider and become fully informed 3-13 about service and treatment options; and 3-14 (4) actively participate in decisions relating to 3-15 service and treatment options, make personal choices, and take 3-16 action to maintain the client's health. 3-17 (g) The commission shall provide support and information 3-18 services to a person enrolled in or applying for Medicaid coverage 3-19 who experiences barriers to receiving health care services. The 3-20 commission shall give emphasis to assisting a person with an urgent 3-21 or immediate medical or support need. The commission may provide 3-22 support and information services by contracting with a nonprofit 3-23 organization that is not involved in providing health care, health 3-24 insurance, or health benefits. As a part of the support and 3-25 information services required by this subsection, the commission or 3-26 nonprofit organization shall: 3-27 (1) operate a statewide toll-free assistance telephone 4-1 number that includes TDD lines and assistance for persons who speak 4-2 Spanish; 4-3 (2) intervene promptly with the state Medicaid office, 4-4 managed care organizations and providers, the Texas Department of 4-5 Health, and any other appropriate entity on behalf of a person who 4-6 has an urgent need for medical services; 4-7 (3) assist a person who is experiencing barriers in 4-8 the Medicaid application and enrollment process and refer the 4-9 person for further assistance if appropriate; 4-10 (4) educate persons so that they: 4-11 (A) understand the concept of managed care; 4-12 (B) understand their rights under the Medicaid 4-13 program, including grievance and appeal procedures; and 4-14 (C) are able to advocate for themselves; 4-15 (5) collect and maintain statistical information on a 4-16 regional basis regarding calls received by the assistance lines and 4-17 publish quarterly reports that: 4-18 (A) list the number of calls received by region; 4-19 (B) identify trends in delivery and access 4-20 problems; 4-21 (C) identify recurring barriers in the Medicaid 4-22 system; and 4-23 (D) indicate other problems identified with 4-24 Medicaid managed care; and 4-25 (6) assist the state Medicaid office, managed care 4-26 organizations and providers, and the Texas Department of Health in 4-27 identifying and correcting problems, including site visits to 5-1 affected regions if necessary. 5-2 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 5-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 5-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 5-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 5-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 5-7 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 5-8 passage, and it is so enacted.